Housing Roundtable: Measuring the scale and nature of single non-priority homelessness in the NE

Aims of the event:

  • Draw out the gaps in existing data systems about the scale and nature of single non-priority homelessness
  • Develop ideas for capturing data about the scale and nature of single homelessness across the North East
  • Be in a position to inform national debates on this topic

Participants:

Rachel CoffeyHomeless Link

Maurice CondieTyne Housing

Steve McKinlayDepaul UK

Anwen JonesCentre for Housing Policy, University of York

Richard CorkhillRichard Corkhill Housing Consultancy

John GarnerManager

Sharon BrownRegional Manager

Sheila Spencer Housing consultant

Rhiannon BearneThe Cyrenians

Satty RaiNorthern Housing Consortium

Phil DobsonAquila Way

Tracy FreemanFirst Stop, Darlington

Hannah Stapley Barnardos

Rachel Gagliano Northumberland County Council

Simon Virth Community Campus 87

Fiona Robson North Tyneside

Why do we want to collect broader data about homelessness?

To identify a baseline of levels of need to inform current (short term) responses, and to be able to measure progress, to add to and the data already captured about homelessness amongst those in priority need, and to deepen what is captured for all groups about prevention

To help to predict future need, so as to inform commissioning of services for the future

To understand better how to prevent homelessness amongst this group

Our suggestions

Make use of existing data:

Map data sources across each LA, using a standard template

Expand sources of data for estimating need - our evidence shows that a small but significant proportion of people accommodated by supported housing providers have not approached Housing Options teams, and this is also likely to be true of advice and other agencies

Encourage all LAs to make use of the good data still collected by supported housing organisations that was required under Supporting People, and suggest that all commissioned / funded services are required to submit their data in this form

Develop a way of sharing the supported housing data that used to be collated at a regional level and shared across the region

Make use of Homeless Link resources to support housing support agencies to develop good practice in collecting data, through Inform or similar systems

Ask supported housing providers, day centres and others to share any other data they collect on a routine basis, including numbers of people who are sofa surfing as well as those who are sleeping rough

Develop the Newcastle Gateway system to collect and collate data on single homelessness beyond rough sleeping numbers and outcomes

Marry up NDTMS and homelessness data

Develop a unique identifier which can be used to compare data from different sources:

Capitalise on the fact that all supported housing providers and LAs ask for National Insurance numbers; suggest that all LAs, advice agencies and others working with single homeless people begin to record this data, and also each LA to develop analyses tools that can pull data out using this unique identifier

Capture data not yet collected:

Make use of snapshot surveys to capture data such as numbers of young people who have become homeless at some point after being in care / Looked After, and numbers of people sofa surfing or otherwise hidden from view

Access data from DWP which might shed light on levels of homelessness and sofa surfing

Use Freedom of Information requests to gather information that is not so readily available e.g. numbers of young people placed in B&B or private hostels by agencies other than Housing Options

Develop a minimum data set for collecting data about young people’s homelessness across each LA (i.e. from YOTs, Children’s Services, Leaving Care Teams, and Housing Options)

Develop a better definition of homelessness:

Develop a more broadly based definition which encompasses sofa surfers, those in very insecure housing such as hostels and a temporary stay with friends or family, and others who are “vulnerably housed” , and try it out

Work with LAs in the region to ensure that the interpretation of the definition is the same across all LAs

Suggest that the FEANTSA definition is adopted at national level, with a broadening of the “houselessness” element to include sofa surfing and living temporarily with family or friends

Develop a more consistent way of capturing data about prevention and outcomes, and repeat episodes of homelessness

Build on existing ways of capturing data on outcomes and prevention to show whether homelessness has been prevented for the long term

Build ways of capturing repeat episodes of homelessness, and repeated need for prevention interventions, beyond the standard P1E measure for those in priority need who have re-approached Housing Options teams after being accepted as being owed a duty

Develop a standard way of capturing stories about homelessness – impact and solutions:

Stories can change hearts and minds and add an essential element to complement hard data – make this a standard element of any presentation of data about homelessness, across LAs and VCS organisations, to build and present the evidence to policy makers, including what interventions are in use, which have worked, and results and savings for health, education, housing, crime etc.

It is also important to understand individuals and the underlying issues that they present with, and looking at deeper roots of causes not just immediate causes

Overcome barriers:

Work on the problems related to different data systems not talking to each other

Acknowledge that resources and capacity are barriers to effective data capture and analysis; develop a shared ethos for why we’re collecting data, and ensure that the analysis is shared with all partners and with the DCLG and politicians

At national level:

Develop the system of using unique identifiers of National Insurance numbers and date of birth, so that all data can be compared and cross-analysed

Ensure that data held by DWP and Police can be used for analysis of homelessness and housing need

Recommend that the Homeless Link system is used nationally

Remodel the prison KPTs, placing responsibility for capturing and meeting the needs of each person with the relevant local authority