Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive introducing the speakers that will address the Inquiry in relation to the provision of key services for single homeless people, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive introducing the speakers due to address the Inquiry in relation to the provision of key services for single homeless people.

On hearing presentations detailing the support services available for homeless adults and young people, from the Society of St James, Two Saints, No Limits and Chapter 1 the Panel noted:

• the importance of these agencies to the Council for the provision of services to the homeless;
• how the lack of housing affected the health of their clients;
• the aspirations and aims of the agencies;
• how these agencies link into the provision of health services;
• the range of services provided by these agencies and the range of services by Agencies that ensured that support for those individuals can be tailored dependent on their needs;
• that these agencies provide services that aim both to prevent further decline of an individual circumstance and provide services that are a safety net for those people that had no other options;
• that mediation between families to enable a return to the family home was the preferred option for younger clients and it acknowledged that this was not always possible.  The Panel noted that every effort was taken to avoid young people using adult serves;
• the importance of work undertaken by the day centres and the links between SCC and the various agencies;
• that the access to public funding may cause a barrier for the provision of services to non- European Union clients;
• the use private landlords with agency support to provide housing for those in need; and
• a number of specific projects like the Making Every Adult Matter (MEAM), Housing First and breathing spaces.

On hearing presentations from the Homeless Health Care Team, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services and the Mental Health Services detailing access to and discharge from health services, the Panel noted:

• that 1-in-5 inpatients in Southern Health trust Mental Health Services are ready for discharge but lack suitable accommodation;
• that homeless people are also more likely to spend longer in acute care due to difficulties in securing follow on support and accommodation;
• the structure and services of the Homeless HealthCare Team;
• the predominant health concerns and conditions that the healthcare team deal with and how they respond to them;
• the percentage of clients using the Drug and Alcohol services team that are either homeless or have a housing problem;
• that the numbers of people using drug and alcohol treatment services was increasing in Southampton;
• that there were a number of ongoing initiatives in the City designed to help make a difference to those with drug or alcohol dependency;
• the importance of training professionals so that they are aware of drug and alcohol matters;
• the cost benefits of dealing with those with dependency and the public support for the initiatives like the Naxolone programme; and
• that there is an effective joint working practice between the Substance Misuse Services and services for people at risk of homelessness or who are currently Homeless.

RESOLVED that the presentations made at the meeting be noted and the information provided be entered into the Inquiry’s file of evidence.