Our 'Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-29' sets out what needs to be done to prevent and address homelessness in York over the next 5 years and is backed by an action plan to deliver on the strategy objectives.
The strategy aims to develop a system wide approach that works with partners, stakeholders and citizens to make homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring.
The approach recognises the value of existing successes and partnerships, establishing pathways to suitable housing that can be sustained with high quality, person-centred support. New partnerships and innovative delivery models are set out within a clear governance and performance framework.
Our strategy:
- has been developed in partnership across the council and in consultation with over 30 partners
- builds on the achievements from the last strategy
- gives structure to homeless and rough sleeping services
- supports the council’s core commitments expressed in the 2023 to 2027 Council Plan, in particular Equality of Opportunity, Health and Wellbeing and Affordability
The Strategy has 6 key themes, which each have associated actions and are summarised as follows:
1. Expansion of Housing First with 250 additional 1-bed tenancies over strategy period
Expansion of Housing First through a formal partnership investment model to increase revenue funding while maintaining existing CYC budget levels, alongside strategic purchases of suitable flats into the council’s stock and Registered Provider commitment. Multidisciplinary Team providing holistic support for service users with complex need, including e.g. dual diagnosis, dependent on partnership contributions and external funding. This takes into account core elements of the Resettlement Review recommendations and builds on existing service strengths including the Mental Health Housing First provision.
2. Resettlement service redesign delivering review recommendations
Incorporate Resettlement Review recommendations into the new services, including a revised model with Mental Health specialism and considerations of other specialist service areas, within the profile of existing council budgets.
3. Expansion of social housing
Maximise delivery through Section 106 planning permissions and the council’s Housing Delivery Programme, in addition to work with social housing partners to increase the level of Homes England grant funded investment in the City. Priorities informed by the Local Housing Needs Assessment 2022 or successor evidence base document.
4. Homelessness Prevention and Tenancy Sustainment
Develop City of York Tenancy Sustainment Strategy for CYC as Landlord and in partnership with other Registered Providers in the City and a Supported Housing Strategy. Build on homelessness prevention offer and support high quality early intervention and delivery of Homelessness Reduction Act statutory duties for all households at risk of homelessness.
5. Tackling Domestic Abuse
Achieve Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation. Support survivors, prevent homelessness where possible, including preventative work with perpetrators and individuals at risk of becoming perpetrators.
6. Revised governance structure and performance framework
A new governance structure and enhanced data reporting to establish clearly “what success looks like” in the new service delivery model as an effective performance framework. Regular performance review integrated into ongoing service improvement to achieve the strategy objectives.
Housing Options
Our Housing Options Team and partner agencies provide a whole range of services, such as:
- advice to households who find themselves in a housing crisis
- intervening to prevent homelessness
- managing homeless applications
Homelessness Prevention Statistics
Prevention figures represent the number of households that we or other advice and support agencies prevented from becoming homeless, by helping them stay in their current home or helping them find alternative accommodation.
Homelessness Need Statistics
Homelessness figures are official government statistics, which we collect every 3 months. They show the number of households which have formally presented to us as homeless and have been assessed under the legal criteria (Part 7 Housing Act 1996).
The 'accepted homeless' figure shows the number of households we had a duty to house. That is, those who:
- were eligible
- were in priority need
- were unintentionally homeless
- had a local connection
Temporary accommodation figures
This is the number of households on a particular date (usually at the end of March, June, September and December) in temporary accommodation.
Temporary accommodation is generally a hostel, a non-secure tenancy and sometimes a bed and breakfast.
Households are placed in temporary accommodation if they meet the criteria (eligible, homeless, believed to be in priority need) while their case is investigated and a formal decision made. If 'accepted homeless', they will remain in temporary accommodation until they can move into permanent accommodation.
Rough sleeping figures
Rough sleepers are people who do not have any accommodation and sleep out 'under the stars' or in temporary shelter such as bus stops and sheds.
Access information on our performance around the prevention of homelessness and our achievements in tackling homelessness on GOV.UK: Dashboards on homelessness.