Decision details

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Sustainability  seeking approval of Southampton's Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2013-2018.

This details the review of homelessness in the City and outlines the ways in which the City Council and its partners work together to prevent Homelessness.  In accordance to our duty under The Homelessness Act 2002 to produce a Homelessness Strategy in 2003 and to publish a new homelessness strategy every five years.

(i)  To approve Southampton’s Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2013-2018.

(ii)  To support the priority actions set out in the Homelessness Prevention Strategy.

1.  The Homelessness Act 2002 requires the Local Authority to review and produce a new Homelessness Strategy every five years; Southampton published its first Homelessness Strategy in 2003. The Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2013/18 sets out reasons for, and the ways in which, Southampton City Council and its partners will achieve its key objectives in tackling homelessness.  Southampton has a legal duty to publish the new Homelessness Strategy in 2013.

2.  Southampton Homelessness Prevention Strategy 2013/18 has been developed in consultation with key stakeholders; priority actions have been identified to support the strategy. In view of the rapidly changing economic and social environment, stakeholders agreed that an annual review of homeless trends should be conducted to identify actions needed against the priorities set out in the strategy to reflect the changes in demand from homeless households.

The Council could decide that the existing objectives are NOT relevant and that a prescriptive action plan be devised which sets out actions for the entire five year strategy period. In view of the uncertainty created by welfare reform changes this could lead to inappropriate actions and result in limited resources being used for the wrong priorities.