To receive an update on housing in RBWM.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: The Chairman requested that the order of agenda items be changed, so that the Housing Update and Homeless Forum items were considered together.

Tracy Hendren, Head of Housing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards, explained that the alternative giving scheme had been launched at the start of lockdown. The scheme was a method of encouraging people to give money to end homelessness in a way which would have the biggest possible impact. There were four major areas where the scheme would have an impact:

·         Directly on individuals who were experiencing homelessness

·         Building stronger partnerships

·         Addressing street activity (begging) in town centres

·         Changing public perceptions about those who were homeless

It was not a choice to be on the street and the alternative giving scheme allowed people to support people off the street. The scheme was called ‘Tap 4 Lasting Change’ and donations raised by the scheme helped to fund individually tailored support programmes for rough sleepers in the Borough and to help them make real life changes as part of the Borough’s rough sleeper pathway. The scheme had continued to be available throughout lockdown with over £2,000 in donations being received.

There were six ‘Tap 4 Lasting Change’ donation points in the Royal Borough:

·         Ascot:

o   Chewton Rose

·         Eton:

o   Popeye Grooming

·         Maidenhead:

o   Maidenhead Library

o   Hardedge

·         Windsor:

o   Windsor Library

o   Dr Chocs

Comparing the number of rough sleepers, in 2019 there were 40 in RBWM but in 2020 this dropped to 8 which was a dramatic difference. There was currently no one rough sleeping on the streets of the borough. Different forms of support were provided to those who had recently come in off the street. Analysis of the support needs of those currently on the rough sleeping pathway highlighted three key areas of support which were unmet. A lack of activities to ensure meaningful use of time, coupled with difficulties managing money and personal administration could lead to anti-social activities such as begging which in areas with high levels of tourism, such as Windsor, could be particularly lucrative. These areas were all being focused on as part of the rough sleeper pathway.

Looking forward, proposals for use of the funding received through the Alternative Giving Scheme would be presented to members of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Forum in September 2021. Due to Covid 19, the marketing of the ‘Tap 4 Change’ scheme was very low key. With the restrictions lifting, a new campaign was being developed to ensure funds were maximised going forward.

The Chairman said that it was fantastic to hear that there were currently no rough sleepers in the borough and that this showed the excellent work which was taking place in this area. The Chairman asked if there could be any issues in future with demand for the scheme and if any lessons had been learnt from the pandemic on how to evolve the service.

Tracy Hendren said that one of the challenges had been the change from a programme that was available to all those rough sleepers who wanted to engage with the team to the government ensuring that all rough sleepers were off the street due to the pandemic. However, this had meant that it had been difficult for the team to predict what their needs would be going forwards. The council had secured additional funding for projects like housing first, where applicants would still be able to receive accommodation despite not being able to go through the usual rough sleeper pathway.

Councillor Stimson said that she was proud to be part of a borough moving forward with this approach.

Huw Thomas asked if there had been communication with people who had been rough sleepers in the past and now that tourists and residents were being encouraged to give money to the alternative giving scheme, what the reaction might be.

Tracy Hendren said that the approach was always support before enforcement, rough sleepers were not always the cause for street activity. The team would first look to see if the individual was on the pathway, if they were then it was a three strike approach. If they were not on the pathway, the team would give the individual a leaflet which would help signpost them to the services and support available.

Councillor Singh joined the meeting.

Councillor Bond congratulated the team for reducing the figures. He had only seen one person engaging in street activity and it was important to realise that some individuals would have a need for social interaction.

The Chairman thanked Tracy Hendren and her team for the update and for all their work.