Decision details

(1)  That the appointment of 1 part-time (18 hours) additional Deputy Hostel Manager on a temporary contract for 2 years at Grade 5  be agreed, funded from the Government’s new Flexible Homelessness Support Grant in order to deal with the additional workload at the Council’s Homeless Persons’ Hostel, Norway House, North Weald;    

(2)  That the Council enters into an Agreement with Zinc Arts, Ongar to place homeless applicants at the accommodation on an ad.hoc. licence basis, with the Council providing “top-up” funding representing the difference between the agreed rent levels and the relevant Local Housing Allowance;

(3)  That initially 3 of the Council’s single (or Parent and child) homeless applicants over 35 years of age are placed in 3 of Zinc Arts’ units of accommodation for a pilot period of 3 months with the top-up cost of around £1,400 being met from the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant thereby making an overall saving to the General Fund of around £4,800 if all 3 applicants are placed there for the full 3 month period;

(4)  That the cost of the management fees for the first quarter of 2017/2018 in the sum of around £15,000 (formally met by the Department of Work and Pensions) for the provision of 17 units of private rented accommodation for homeless applicants by Genesis Housing Association be met from the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant; and

(5)  That a report be submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet in June 2017 to consider the full use of both the Government’s Flexible Homelessness Support Grant and the expected grant to deal with the Council’s new duties under the Homelessness Reduction Bill.