Homelessness Prevention Task and Finish Group: final report and recommendations

The outcomes we’re trying to achieve

Replicated from the Ending Homelessness Action Plan^[1]:

Wherever possible, we prevent homelessness from happening in the first place; making it rare by responding quickly and effectively whenever it happens; making it brief by joining up planning and resources to tackle it and make it non-recurring by prioritising safe, settled homes in communities.

What this means for people:

“My support is flexible and builds on my strengths and successes”

“I always have choice and control”

“I am listened to, valued and treated with dignity and respect”

“I can find support quickly if I need it, before reaching crisis point”

“I am helped to keep my home, which helps me focus on other goals”

“My housing options are considered when my other circumstances change”

“I know where to get help”

“I expect services to work together, in partnership with me”

“I trust that the right people are informed about my needs and experiences”

“I expect my housing crisis to be responded to with urgency”

“The help I get is right for me, and reduces the risk of homelessness happening again”

“I can exercise my right to access and maintain a safe and secure home”

“I build and maintain positive relationships and am part of a community”

What this means for services:

Knowledge Staff and the public understand and can identify the causes and triggers of housing risk and homelessness.

Confidence Staff feel more confident in asking about, identifying and assisting someone with housing risk.

Visibility Staff and the public understand which services can offer early help when housing risk presents, and how to contact them.

Accessibility Services are designed to be available where, when and how people need them.

Coordination Services provide efficient and joined-up support which benefits wider outcomes (better health, better financial health, sustainable housing, less recidivism, less poverty, improved employment/learning opportunities).

Culture Change All staff understand that they have a role to play in identifying housing risk and feel a sense of responsibility, without the burden of fear.

Person-Centred Those who access services are front and centre of the improvement journey to ensure that they shape what good looks like in working to avert housing crisis.

Shared Vision There is consistent messaging around common understanding of benefits in reducing and preventing housing crises occurring, using a common language which makes sense across sectors.

Transparency Staff, service users and the public are confident in highlighting what is and is not working, and services respond to this feedback, driving continuous improvement.

Accountability Services hold themselves accountable for meeting service users’ outcomes and complying with the law, and are held accountable by regulators and other stakeholders.

Start Early Services across all sectors learn from known strategies to identify those at risk of housing crisis as early as possible.

Resources The services and resources that people need when facing a housing crisis are available, accessible and are delivered within a reasonable timeframe, that allows them the greatest chance of success.