Issue - meetings

The report seeks approval to adopt the Joint Housing and Homelessness Strategy for Vulnerable Young People and Families for the following reasons:

1.There is common agreement that safe and suitable housing is a basic human right for children, young people and families.  Conversely transient lifestyles and inappropriate housing have been identified as one of the risk factors on the pathway to harm.

2. The needs analysis (Annex 1) on which the strategy is based, highlighted the need for adequate support and housing for vulnerable families and a variety of housing options for vulnerable young people, some of whom have complex needs or disabilities.

The strategy seeks to address these needs through a countywide programme involving early prevention work, partnership working, review and co-commissioning of the Young People's Supported Housing Pathway and support to landlords.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to adopt the Joint Housing and Homelessness Strategy for Vulnerable Young People and Families

.Recommendations agreed.

The Cabinet had before it a report which sought approval to adopt the Joint Housing and Homelessness Strategy for Vulnerable Young People and Families.

The strategy sought to address the issues through a countywide programme involving early prevention work, partnership working, review and co-commissioning of the Young People's Supported Housing Pathway and support to landlords.

Officers presented the contents of the report.

Cabinet in welcoming the approach set out in the Strategy made the following points:

·         The numbers of people in Oxfordshire referred to at paragraph 3.5 of the Appendix to the Strategy needed tom be corrected.

·         Councillor Bartholomew whilst supporting overall commented that the wording on page 204 of the agenda on Universal Credit seemed to reflect political bias. Councillor Corkin commented that in Cherwell District the description of the impact of Universal Credit was not wrong.

·         In particular Councillor Bartholomew commended the support to good landlords.

·         It was good to see the partnership working with Cherwell District Council. There was a hope that lessons could be learnt for working with other District Councils.

Councillor Steve Harrod, Cabinet Member for Children and Family Services moved the recommendations.

RESOLVED:to adopt the Joint Housing and Homelessness Strategy for Vulnerable Young People and Families.