1 Prevention First Workshop on Prevention Initiatives in Fife

2 What will be covered An insight into Prevention First How Prevention First developed Key elements of Prevention First Performance What has worked Question and Answer Session

3 The Story So Far Scottish Government initiative HUBS Partnership approach to homelessness Fife’s take on it – ‘Prevention First’ Project now live Fife wide

4 Why Prevention? Advice led approach Part of a suite of Housing Advice Interviews Better / less disruptive for the customer Financially better for all concerned? Traditional homelessness systems don’t always work for everyone

5 Prevention First Prevention First is about – –Reducing homelessness in Fife –Discussing all options first –Giving the customer information to allow them to make informed choices –Assisting customers to retain settled accommodation –Putting support in early –Delivered in partnership with the Voluntary Sector It is a Culture Change (Customers & Staff)

6 Prevention First There are 3 strands of work that have been developed and evaluated –Advice & Assessment Triage Enhanced Housing Options Income & Expenditure –Crisis Intervention (Homeless within next 7 days) –Early Intervention (Homeless within 8 to 56 days)

7 Initial Approach to Organisation Triage Contact/ Form completed (Same Day) Decision Made Route Agreed Potentially homeless In Next 7 days Crisis Intervention Enhanced Housing Options Interview Advice & Assessment Only – Housing Options Interview Initial Approach Process Current Housing Options Process Homeless Now Abuse, Violence & harassment Statutory Homeless Route Recording of Information: Stat Homeless: HL1 Prevention First: FORT CRMS Early Intervention Support Potentially Homeless Up to 56 days Identify if there is a risk of homelessness

8 What is ‘Triage’ It is a step in a process which could lead to a homeless assessment or solve the housing issue Is about determining where you refer a customer for in-depth advice and assistance Diagnose the housing issue –e.g. Private Tenancy Short Assured Tenancy with no Notice to Quit Short Assured Tenancy NTQ received today Short Assured tenancy NTQ expires in 2 days You make the decision on where to Sign Post

9 What is ‘Crisis Intervention’ This is about dealing with immediate homelessness (in next 7 days) Quick response to prevent homelessness Possible responses are –Negotiating with family to return home –Housing Advice / Court representation to deal with urgent tenancy issues –Quick identification of alternatives

10 What is ‘Enhanced Housing Options’ For those applicants who could be homeless within 8 to 56 days (or beyond) In-depth advice interview Income & Expenditure must be done in all cases Exploring full range of housing options Focussing on ways to sustain settled accommodation Elements of Personal Housing Planning Potential prospects for Social Rented Housing

11 What is ‘Early Intervention’ Key to Prevention First is keeping service users in settled accommodation Early identification is the key Housing Support to enable service user to retain this –Focus on practical living skills –Support to engage with other services e.g. Health –Family support / negotiation –Dealing with tenancy issues e.g. debt / anti-social

12 Prevention First Update - Statistics Triage Interviews –710 in first 6 months –70% went on to have EHOI –53% went to Crisis –30% went on to Homeless Call Point/Temporary Accom –66% had a Planned Exit Early Intervention –32% went on to have EI Housing Support

13 Prevention First Update Statistics Homeless Presentations –33% reduction in Glenrothes –38.5% reduction in Levenmouth –Average reduction 13% across Fife –Compared to October 2010 – 62% decrease in Glenrothes, 35% in Levenmouth Temporary Accommodation –23% reduction in new applications into temporary accommodation Key Fund –13% of customers went into Private Lets (and are still there!!)

14 Prevention First Statistics Repeat presentations less than 1 % Lost contacts relate to only 12 %

15 What has worked Focus on advice, part of a wider suite of assessments Face to Face contact Joint Training Key Fund scheme Support to remain at home Working in partnership with the voluntary sector Fife On-Line Referral & Tracking system Prevention Culture

16 What do we need to develop further On-Line / Contact Centre presence Increase advice resources within the Council Returning Young People to home? Continuous Professional development FORT Statistics Mortgage repossession / Section 11 Role of Homeless Assessment

17 Question Time