Housing First – a new approach to tackling Street Homelessness

Street homelessness is a barometer of how society treats its most vulnerable citizens. The individual reasons for homelessness are complex and varied, but are compounded by 10 years of austerity which has created the perfect storm of increasing pressure on already vulnerable people and a reduction in the accessibility of support.

We all agree this is one of the defining issues of our generation.

On the 18th November 2019, members of the voluntary sector attended VS6’s first Housing Assembly event to discuss Housing First, an initiative which provides street homeless people access to a tenancy first, alongside wraparound support. This is a reverse of the traditional model of placing the tenancy at the end of the support journey, only when people can demonstrate their ability to sustain it.

The Liverpool Combined authority are running a “test and learn” Housing First programme for 60 street homeless people with complex and multiple needs.

At the VS6 Housing Assembly, VCS providers of housing and homelessness related support listened to a presentation form Kate Farrell, Strategic Lead on Homelessness for the Combined Authority, discussed the approach and asked the “burning questions” in relation to current provision and the future shape of homeless provision.

Questions included eligibility and accessibility clarity, equity issues, allocations policy and the role of the VCS, TUPE implications, evaluation and legacy questions.

Kate agreed to feedback on all of these questions and VS6 agreed to circulate these responses.

Systemic issues included running two parallel systems at once and perceived equity – the underfunding of current support services contracts did not allow for such intensive working.

What is clear, however, is that investment in our most vulnerable homeless people is to be welcomed and Housing First has the potential to change lives. It also has the potential to provide opportunities for the VCS as service deliverers.

If future commissioning follows the “Human Learning System” approach, as suggested by the Combined Authority, and engages the VCS positively, Housing First would be able to tap into the knowledge, expertise and flexibility of the sector to make a real difference to homelessness in the City Region.

VS6 has agreed to facilitate two further Housing Assemblies next year, and create a strong communication system with the Combined Authority, to develop these links.

Let’s use our vision and passion to support the Combined Authority on its quest to end street homlessness and welcome radical and challenging approaches to this issue.  

Gill Bainbridge, Merseyside Youth Association