Develop a cross-departmental strategy to tackle homelessness

There are a number of government strategies that specifically concern homelessness. In general, the emphasis has been upon preventing homelessness rather than improving access to employment. We welcome the launch of “Sustainable Communities: settled homes; changing lives” (2005), the Government’s strategy for tackling and preventing homelessness. Following the publication of this strategy, the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has set up a Homelessness Strategy Delivery Group (HSDG). OSW was actively involved, and chaired a sub-group of Workstream 3 of HSDG, which focused on employment, benefits and training.

We will work hard to ensure that we continue to contribute effectively, to ensure that solutions to homelessness are holistic and cross-departmental. We would like to see the implementation of a cross-government strategy, drawing together employment, housing, health and other relevant provision, which would improve outcomes for homeless people. There are a number of existing local co-ordinating mechanisms that could be developed to improve strategic coordination of public services for homeless people e.g. Supporting People or drug intervention programme resettlement teams. It should not be necessary to set up a completely new structure. Greater consideration should be given to how services could co-ordinate more effectively at local and national levels.

Welfare reform should make specific consideration of tackling homelessness

Policy to enable people to move from benefits into work needs to make specific consideration of the particular needs of homeless people (see our response (164 Kb) and the joint sectoral response (132 Kb) to the Department for Work and Pension’s Welfare Reform Green Paper consultation).

More accurate benefits advice is essential

The availability of accurate benefits advice to homeless people needs to improve. An increased focus on Jobcentre Plus outreach services, further roll out of dedicated services – such as Progress2Work LinkUP – and benefits training for housing support staff would improve this situation. New Deal reform (including those measures outlined in Building on New Deal) would provide Jobcentre Plus with more flexibility to provide appropriate support to the very particular needs of homeless people.

Statutory services need to be more flexible and integrated

Homeless people moving into work need personal support, which may come from a range of statutory, private and voluntary agencies. Enabling a range of agencies the flexibility to work together, to coordinate service access and care, will be important to improving employment outcomes.

Reform Housing Benefit, so it does not act as a barrier to employment

Housing Benefit acts as a major disincentive to employment. Although this has been recognised by Government, and there is a longer-term commitment to reform, this does not help in the shorter term. As an interim measure it ought to be possible to introduce a mechanism to modify the way the Housing Benefit system operates, so that it helps make work pay.

Sanctions in the benefits regime should only be used when absolutely necessary

Legislation should ensure that sanctions in the benefits regime can only be used with extremely careful consideration. Whilst there are cases where they may have a positive impact on employment outcomes, where they are used inappropriately, they can act to make employment outcomes less likely.

Jobcentre Plus service quality needs to be more consistent

Urgent improvements need to be made to the way that Jobcentre Plus staff treats people who are homeless. While there is a lot of excellent practice, service quality varies greatly. Monitoring outcomes by people’s housing situations, and setting specific targets for getting people who are homeless into work, is important.

Benefits administration needs to improve

The administration of the benefits system needs to be improved to ensure that delays are reduced, and that already vulnerable individuals are not put under further strain.

Reform funding streams to make hostels more focused on activity, skills and employment

To support homeless people to become more active, set goals and work towards them, requires significant change in hostel cultures. Consideration should be given to reforming funding streams to facilitate the mainstreaming of employment and meaningful activity, and its integration with resettlement work. The Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate recognise that access to employment and training are key to tackling homelessness, but it may be that they will need to ‘steer’ hostel provision if employment related services are to be more than an optional extra.

Implement a living wage (minimum income) policy so that work pays

Once people move into work many are low paid and cannot afford a standard of living that would enable them to feel fully included in society. Poverty wages are unlikely to mean that work is sustainable, will not motivate large proportions of people to enter work, and do not provide the means for people to move towards social inclusion. The Government needs to recognise the existence of in-work poverty, the impact this has on people’s incentives to work, and move towards enabling all citizens to earn a living wage.

Provide appropriate health treatment

For many homeless individuals, access to appropriate treatment is an essential precursor to work. This may require access to effective, appropriate and timely rehabilitation services, to enable them to tackle drug and alcohol dependency.