Equality and the New Homelessness Duties: An Overview Matt O’Grady, Equality and Diversity Officer Tai

Today’s Session Why is homelessness an equality issue? Equality and prevention Barriers to accessing services Equality and discharging the duty

Why homelessness is an equality issue While anyone can become homeless, some people are more likely to be homeless than others Various factors behind this Different support available for different people – particularly priority need This means that some groups will experience a different impact that others as well Strong equality impact assessments on your policies will help to make it less of an issue in your area. Tai Pawb can assist with this.

What can cause homelessness? BME – Awareness of rights and responsibilities, lack of support, language barriers, refugees Mental Health – Impact of poor housing, disengagement with support, financial problems, substance misuse LGBT – Harassment, thrown out of family home Women – Domestic abuse

What can cause homelessness? Men – Leaving prison or armed services Young people – Lack of awareness or rights and responsibilities, breakdown of relationships with parents, low income and/or savings Disability – Home no longer appropriate, welfare reform Important to remember is unlikely to be just one factor. Likely to be more complex – such as BME people with mental health problems or domestic abuse in a same sex relationship.

Connection to protected characteristic? Draft Code of Guidance: “The review and strategy should examine the main causes of homelessness as identified through its data returns, and how these causes will be addressed. This will need to include family breakdown, domestic abuse, debt, private and social landlord decisions to repossess, and discharge from institutions.”

Equality and initial access to services Barriers at point of service entry: Awareness of services Language Formats Overuse of technical terms or assumptions of knowledge Disclosure Draft Welsh Government Code of Guidance: “The Local Housing Authority will need to ensure that the housing advice and information service is accessible to all those who may have need of the service.”

Video In the likely event that this doesn’t work, you can find a copy of the video here: Or Matt will it after the event.

Prevention Understanding how someone’s protected characteristics could impact on the reasons behind their homelessness will help you to prevent. Only knowing the issues faced by an individual will help you solve them! Steps that could be taken include: Working with landlord to understand why a tenant has acted in a certain way Ensuring support is put in place – working with other service providers, social services, third sector etc Working with police – Hate crime and harassment Signposting to other relevant services – ESOL lessons, LGBT support groups Adaptations – Work with social services teams Financial advice – Could include DHP support or bond board Earlier identification will make prevention easier. Work with partners to help identify potential cases before they even become homeless.

Discharging the duty Accommodation must be suitable (whether permanent or temporary) – accessibility issues, local facilities, cultural needs, housemates, refuges Support may need to be put in place, or progress can be checked further down the line If previous tenants in that particular accommodation have reported problems may need to reassess placement Decide with tenant what to reveal to landlord Target hardening Ensure tenant understands what they are signing up to, particularly rights, responsibilities and affordability!

Thank you Any