WORKING TOGETHER 1 st of April 2014

WORKING TOGETHER 1st of April 2014

HOMELESS LINKWHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO

Homeless Link is the only national umbrella organisation for frontline homelessness charities and agencies working to end homelessness in England.

The 500 organisations that make up the Homeless Link network support the 70,000 homeless people who access their services on a daily basis.

WHO IS HOMELESSThe people we work with

3/4 are male

1 in 3 are young

people

1 in 5 are prison

leavers

28% have drug problems

31% have alcohol

problems

30% have mental health issues

Source: Survey of Needs and Provision, 2013

SERVICE PRESSURESINCREASED DEMAND, FEWER SERVICE

Source: Survey of Needs and Provision, 2013

Rough Sleeping up

31% over the last 3 years

11% fewer accommodation projects than 3

years ago

9% (4000) fewer bed

spaces than 3 years ago

INCREASED DEMAND

FEWER SERVICES

EXTERNAL PRESSURES

COUNCIL TAX

BENEFIT

HOMELESSNESSservices, support,

recovery, resettlement

SAR CHANGES

TOTAL BENEFIT CAP

EXEMPT ACCOMM

RULE

END OF SOCIAL FUND

UNIVERSAL CREDIT

ROLL OUT

LOCALISM

CUTS TO LA BUDGETS

AUSTERITY

RECESSION

DLA to

PIP

SANCTIONSEXPERIENCES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

Homeless Link’s A High Cost to Pay indicates that individuals who have experienced homelessness are being disproportionately affected by benefit sanctions

In the 3 months to July 2013:• One third of homeless people claiming JSA were sanctioned;• 1 in 5 claiming ESA were sanctioned.

Of the services surveyed• 98% reported homeless people

falling into rent arrears• 86% reported homeless people

getting into debt

Impacts• Sanctions leading to accommodation

problems such as rent arrears or service charge arrears and eviction

• Clients’ existing problems are getting worse as a result of sanctions, with only a minority being motivated by sanctions to find employment www.homeless.org.uk/sanctions

WORK PROGRAMMEEXPERIENCES OF HOMELESS PEOPLE

Source: The Programme’s Not Working; Experiences of Homeless People on the Work Programme A High Cost to Pay: The Impact of Benefit Sanctions on Homeless People

KEY FINDINGS

• People aren’t identified as homeless

• The barriers into employment faced by people experiencing homelessness are not identified and understood

• The most vulnerable do not receive the support they need

• Sanctions disproportionately affect those experiencing homeless.

The Programme’s Not Working report from Crisis, St Mungo’s and Homeless Link draws upon surveys and interviews conducted by the three homelessness charities.

WE HAVE CHANGED

Emmaus

• Help people to realise their potential

• Access to good affordable accommodation

• Personalised support• Adequate income

Our VISION – An end to Homelessness

“GIVE SOMEONE A BED AND A REASON TO GET OUT OF IT”

The changes we’ve made

• Places of Change and Hostel Improvement

• Housing First• No Second Night Out• Making every Adult Matter

WORKING TOGETHER

Develop partnerships with local services, know what they do and the support they offer

Support planning in homelessness services aims to move clients forward and recognises the client’s distance travelled

Identify and assess the needs of those experiencing homelessness

Employment is the homelessness sector’s priority too

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www.homeless.org.uk