Homeless Applications & Interim Accommodation

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CLASSIFICATION: PUBLIC

Dear Mr Hall

Request for Information

I refer to your undernoted request for information received by East
Ayrshire Council on 3 September 2024.

The Council is treating your request as a request under the Freedom of
Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and, for ease of reference, I have listed
our response alongside your questions below:

 1. Homeless Applications and Interim Accommodation:

• Over the past twelve months, how many people have made a homeless
application to the Council?

From 3 September 2023 to 3 September 2024, 862 households have made a
homeless application to East Ayrshire Council.

• Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with
interim accommodation pursuant to Section 188(1) of the Housing Act
1996?

The Housing Act 1996 is not applicable in Scotland.  I can however confirm
that the relevant legislation in Scotland relating to the duty to provide
temporary accommodation is Section 29 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987.

From 3 September 2023 to 3 September 2024, 229 households have been
provided with temporary accommodation.

• Over the past twelve months, how many people have been provided with
interim accommodation pursuant to Section 189(b) of the Housing Act
1996?

N/A – please see response to the previous question.

• Over the past twelve months, what was the total cost of providing
interim accommodation?

See attached spreadsheet.  Please note that we are only able to provide
this information by financial year.

a)         What proportion of this cost was paid to Travelodge and/or any
of its parent companies/subsidiaries?

Nil.

b)         b) What was the total amount paid to Travelodge and/or its
related entities over the past twelve months?

Nil.

 2. Temporary Accommodation Expenditure and Associated Costs:

• What has been the total expenditure on interim temporary
accommodation (e.g., Travelodge, B&Bs) for homeless individuals over
the past three financial years?

See attached spreadsheet.

• Please provide a breakdown of these costs by location, including the
number of placements made outside the borough.

All households experiencing homelessness are placed in temporary
accommodation within East Ayrshire.

• What has been the total expenditure on affiliated costs such as
storage, taxis, and other related services for individuals placed in
temporary accommodation outside the borough over the past three
financial years?

N/A - East Ayrshire Council does not place homeless households in
temporary accommodation outside the borough.

• Please provide details of these costs by category (e.g., storage,
transportation, etc.) and location.

N/A – as above.

 3. Protection of Personal Property for Homeless Applicants:

• Over the past twelve months, how many homeless applicants have had
their personal property protected by the local authority?

I hereby give you notice in terms of s17 of the Freedom of Information
(Scotland) Act 2002 that this information is not held by the Council.  We
do not hold records of the number of homeless applicants who require
storage.

Households who require storage and assistance with the associated costs
are signposted to the Scottish Welfare Fund to apply for a Community Care
Grant.

• What is the average length of time that a homeless applicant’s
personal property is stored by the local authority?

Information not held, as above.

• What is the average cost of storing a homeless applicant’s personal
property while they are in interim accommodation?

Information not held, as above.

• Under what circumstances does the local authority protect the
personal property of homeless applicants?

East Ayrshire Council would protect the personal property of all homeless
applicants where they are unable to make their own suitable arrangements,
including signposting to the Scottish Welfare Fund, as above.

• As part of the homeless application process, does the local authority
expressly ask the homeless applicant whether they need their personal
property protected?

Yes.  As part of every homeless interview, applicants are asked about
storage of possessions.

• If not, please state the reasons why this question is not asked.

N/A

• Please provide copies of the local authority’s policies regarding
homeless applications.

Please see attached Common Allocation Policy, specifically paragraph 7.1
regarding the Homeless Group.

• Please provide a copy of the local authority’s policy regarding the
protection of the personal property of homeless applicants.

Please see attached Removable Property Procedure.

• Please disclose a copy of the council's homeless procedures manual or
policy document followed by housing solutions officers at its
homeless service centres/homeless persons offices.

Homeless applications are assessed in accordance with the attached Code of
Guidance on Homelessness (2019).

• Over the past three years, how many complaints have been made by
homeless applicants regarding the council’s failure to protect their
personal property?

Nil.

 4. Proactive Measures to Reduce Temporary Accommodation Costs:

• What specific measures has the council taken to reduce the reliance
on temporary accommodation outside the borough, such as Travelodge
and B&Bs?

N/A – as above, all households experiencing homelessness are placed in
temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire, not out with the borough.

• Has the council developed or initiated any programs to increase the
availability of local temporary accommodation, particularly through
the use of empty properties or land within the borough? If so, please
provide details.

No – the portfolio of temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire Council
is in line with demand, therefore this has not been analysed or
considered.

 5. Utilisation of Empty Properties and Land:

• How many empty properties and parcels of land are currently owned by
the council that could potentially be used for temporary
accommodation?

As above, the portfolio of temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire
Council is in line with demand, therefore this has not been analysed or
considered.

• Has the council considered or initiated any compulsory purchase
orders (CPOs) to acquire vacant properties for conversion into
temporary accommodation? If so, please provide details, including the
number of properties targeted, the outcome, and associated costs.

As above, the portfolio of temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire
Council is in line with demand, therefore this has not been considered.

• What steps has the council taken to encourage community/ non-profit
groups or social enterprises to make use of disused land or buildings
via adverse possession for temporary accommodation or support
services? Please provide examples, if any.

As above, the portfolio of temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire
Council is in line with demand, therefore this has not been considered.

 6. Comparative Models and Best Practices:

• Is the council aware of successful models such as Calderwood House in
Cumbria, where an empty property (a former police station) was
transformed into temporary accommodation and support services? If so,
has the council explored similar initiatives within the borough?
Please provide details of any discussions, plans, or actions taken.

East Ayrshire Council is aware of these models but as above, the portfolio
of temporary accommodation is in line with demand.

• Has the council considered offering similar arrangements, such as a
peppercorn rent, to community groups or social enterprises willing to
repurpose empty properties for temporary accommodation or support
services? If not, what are the reasons for not pursuing this option?

As above, the portfolio of temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire
Council is in line with demand, therefore this has not been considered.

 7. Support Services for Individuals in Temporary Accommodation:

• What support services does the council currently provide for
individuals placed in temporary accommodation outside the borough,
particularly in terms of maintaining their connection to local
support networks, healthcare providers, and other essential services?

N/A - as above, all households experiencing homelessness are placed in
temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire, not out with the borough.

• Are there any programs in place to assist individuals in
transitioning from temporary accommodation outside the borough to
permanent housing within the borough? If so, please provide details
on the nature of the support provided, outcomes, and costs.

N/A - as above, all households experiencing homelessness are placed in
temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire, not out with the borough.

 8. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Complaints:

• How does the council monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of its
temporary accommodation placements, particularly those made outside
the borough? Please provide any available data on the impact of these
placements on residents, including any assessments of detriment or
distress caused.

Households leaving temporary accommodation are issued with a housing
support questionnaire for completion to allow us to evaluate the service
provided.  As above, no households are placed out with the borough.

• Has the council conducted any cost-benefit analysis comparing the
current expenditure on temporary accommodation outside the borough
with potential savings from investing in local solutions (e.g.,
repurposing empty properties)? If so, please provide the findings.

N/A - as above, all households experiencing homelessness are placed in
temporary accommodation within East Ayrshire, not out with the borough.

I hope that the information supplied is of use to you, however please do
not hesitate to contact me if I can be of further assistance. If you are
dissatisfied with the way in which your request has been dealt with, you
have certain rights, as set out in the attached leaflet.

Yours sincerely

Gary Craig

Strategic Lead: Housing

Elizabeth O’Neill

Business Support Administrator to Blair Millar,

Head of Housing & Communities

Tel: 01563 576289 | [mobile number]

E-mail: [1][email address]

East Ayrshire Council | Council Headquarters

London Road | Kilmarnock | KA3 7BU | Tel: 01563 554400

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