| Title |
Budget Saving Option 23 Housing Efficiencies Removal of Funding |
| Lead officer(s) |
Blair Millar |
| Telephone number |
|
| Email address |
blair.millar@east-ayrshire,gov.uk |
| Date summary created |
22 Feb 2024 |
| Date assessment completed |
22 Feb 2024 |
| Summary of policy aims |
East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action provide a drop in service for people on the margins of poverty and social exclusion and support with practical items such as food, hot meals, clothes donations, as well as friendship and access to statutory and third sector supports. They also provide hygiene packs to people experiencing homelessness and accessing temporary accommodation. It is not a statutory service provision and service users need not engage with East Ayrshire Churches Homelessness Action (EACHa) or accept assistance. The removal of funding from the recurring General Fund budget will be augmented from temporary funding streams, with an additional enhanced payment from Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan external funding for the next 2 years to March 2026, to the value of £30k (£80k in total funding provided over the next 2 years). |
| Key issues |
All homeless households are provided with the same advice and support to address their support needs. Support is person-centred and can be provided from Housing Options, Vibrant Communities, HSCP and third sector support providers. The services provided by EACHa are available to improve the lives of the most vulnerable in our communities. It is not a statutory service provision and service users need not engage with EACHa or accept assistance. Recurring funding will be replaced with temporary funding, the certainty of which is yet to be determined following 31st March 2026. Housing Services will continue to work to identify possible future funding streams in conjunction with EACHa. |
| Summary of involvement with Groups |
Targeted consultation events took place with the Equalities Forum, Children and Young People's Cabinet and Employees. Consultation information was also shared with the Parent Council and Local Business Associations and through Place Workers in Vibrant Communities, an invitation was extended to community councils and other community groups for members of the Council Management Team to attend their meetings.
The initiative was driven by the need to capture a wide range of perspectives on the Council's services and provided an opportunity for communities to voice their priorities and to highlight those areas where they feel the Council can reduce what it does and how it can deliver services differently. Questions included asking respondents to rank a range of council services and to indicate their support for the Council's Strategic Priorities, together with a series of open ended questions to identify services where respondents thought the Council could stop or reduce delivery, deliver services differently or increase income. |
| Key recommendations |
Advice and support to address homelessness support needs will still be available. Support is person-centred and can be provided from Housing Options, Vibrant Communities, HSCP and third sector support providers. |