Decision Maker: Housing Policy Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: March 20, 2025

Purpose: Approval to commission the provision of shared accommodation with onsite support 24/7 with associated dispersed units to be used as step down (but not exclusively) for 10 to 16 women

Content: 11.1 Members considered a report of the Executive Director, Neighbourhood Services seeking approval to commission a 5-year contract for a Supported Accommodation service for single women who are homeless and have additional support needs. A service was already in place, but the contract ends on the 30th of September 2025. A new service needed to be commissioned to avoid a gap in provision.     11.2 RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Housing Policy Committee approves the commission of a supported accommodation service for single women who are homeless or at risk of rough sleeping for a maximum value of £250,000 per annum over a period of 5 years from an external provider.       11.3 Reasons for Decision 11.3.1 The current contract ends on 30 September 2025. The service helps to meet statutory Housing duties and contributes to meeting key national and local objectives to end rough sleeping. It also addresses a range of wider needs. Failure to recommission the contract would make it harder to place vulnerable women in safe accommodation. This would put additional pressure on Social Care, Domestic Abuse services and Homeless services in the city, in addition to women experiencing poorer outcomes.     11.4 Alternatives Considered and Rejected     11.4.1 Alternative Option 1:   Doing nothing and continuing to pay for the service Doing nothing would mean that from 1st October 2025, the contract will not be compliant with Standing Orders. The contractual arrangement would not be stable, and it could end in an unplanned way, creating the risk of a gap in service provision. If the service ended and where there was a housing duty to support women, this may mean using hotel accommodation or supported accommodation that has not been commissioned and is exempt from housing benefit caps. This would risk lower quality support and could cost the Council more money than a commissioned service, because of Housing Benefit subsidy loss.     11.4.2 Alternative Option 2:   Exiting from the contract at the contract end date   This would potentially risk, lower quality support and result in increased costs to the Council as described in option 1. It would also undermine two key Council Objectives Great neighbourhoods that people are happy to call home and outcome three: People live in caring, engaged communities that value diversity and support wellbeing.     11.4.3 Alternative Option 3:   Tender on the basis of stipulating that the support model must be site[1]based provision with onsite support.   This would risk not being able to commission replacement provision, due to the markets availability and could lead to a gap in service resulting in the negative impacts as outlined in option 2.