1. Dionne Charlotte
SHPS Project Manager

2. Agenda Why SHPS was set up What we hope to achieve
How clients are assisted
How BCAN organisations can help

3. Homelessness Reduction Act- Why?
The Act went live on 3rd April 2018
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 sets out new duties:
Duty to provide advice
Duty to Prevent Homelessness if threatened with Homelessness
Duty to take steps to relieve homelessness if the client is already homeless
Duty to refer
The HRA is blind to ‘priority need’ during the prevention and relief stage, meaning single homeless people will be able to access housing assistance
The timeframe in which people can be classified as threatened with homelessness has increased from 28 to 56 days
All applicants will be issued with a Personal Housing Plan (PHP)

4. What is SHPS
The Single Homeless Prevention Service (SHPS) Brent aims to prevent and relieve homelessness for single people in Brent aged 18 and over
Launched September 2017
Newly commissioned Service to support Brent to deliver their HRA duties to single people in non priority need who require assistance to secure accommodation.
Trailblazer project, our front line Service is delivered by Crisis and Thames Reach workers who are co-located at Brent Civic Centre
Social Investment Bond Programme commissioned by Brent Local Authority, Governed by MHCLG

5. Our Aim Personal Housing Plan Prevention Home Finding
Create an holistic action plan with
Identify barriers to accommodation
Set SMART actions and link to appropriate services – debt, MH, Benefit Support...
Personal Housing Plan
Negotiate terms to resolve a tenancy issue
Set up payment plans with landlord
Support with legal process of eviction
Prevention
Dedicated Accommodation Finder
Brokerage and match service for clients seeking accommodation
Support with Housing Benefit claims
Home Finding
8 months support from SHPS Team
Manage relationships with landlord and tenant
Assistance with resolving tenancy issues + signposting to wider services
Tenancy Sustainment

6. Referral Criteria? Single people or childless couples over 18 who:
Are homeless or at risk of homelessness within 56 days as defined in the homelessness legislation, but not in priority need  under that legislation.​
Who have been given a non priority decision by the local authority but still requires assistance to find accommodation
Have been or work in Brent for at least 6 months, or have exceptional reason for needing to move to Brent, such as fleeing Domestic Violence
Clients must attend an assessment with the Housing Needs Team at Brent to be referred to SHPS

7. Referral Criteria
Eligibility: British Citizen, EU National who is exercising their treaty rights, Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Homelessness: Section 21 notice, court eviction order, exclusion, unsuitable due to disrepairs or medical, fire/flood
If the council are satisfied that the applicant is eligible and threatened with homeless/homeless they will be owed an prevention duty and/or relief duty for 56days.
Local connection: living or working in the area, close family in the area, employment or other special reasons ( must be settled and 6 out of 12months or 3 out of 5 years). Referral out if no local connection.

8. Customer Journey
Client completes Brent Customer Portal
Client attends Initial Assessment with Brent Housing Needs Team
Client is referred to SHPS if given a non priority decision
Client attends PHP meeting with SHPS
Client is supported to maintain current home or to find a new home
Client secures accommodation and is supported for 8 months to sustain their tenancy

9. How Can BCAN Help? Be our eyes and ears in the community
Sign post those at risk of homelessness to Brent Housing Needs Team
Support Clients to utilise the Brent Customer Portal- Make an application
Utilise the SHPS Prevention Service
Let us know if we can sign post clients on programme to your service for wider support- wellbeing, life skills, advice for continued support in their community
Let us know about any landlords who may be willing to help

10. Prevention Service
The aim of our Prevention Service is to bring SHPS to the local community by engaging with 3rd sector and statutory organisations. We want to find single people at risk of homelessness earlier and support them to gain assistance.
SHPS Website
Brent Customer Portal

11. Contact
SHPS (general enquiries) WEBSITE: Tel: Dionne Charlotte- Project Manager

12. Are there any Questions?