Thank you for your request for information concerning Temporary Accomodation.

Your request has been recorded and your reference number is FOI_6833, please quote this reference should you need to contact us.

The Council is aware of the importance for dealing with these matters as a priority and will provide available information within 20 working days, unless, exceptionally, there is a need to consider whether the information is exempt from disclosure.

We will contact you again soon in connection with your request.

[email address]

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Dear Tom Heaney,

I refer to your recent request for information under the Freedom of
Information Act 2000. I can confirm that the Council does hold this
information, as detailed below.

1.          How many properties do you currently have on Temporary
Accommodation?

As of 14th September 2023, there 114 units of accommodation being used
specifically for temporary accommodation under homeless legislation.
Please note this figure change daily.

2.          Please can you advise us on the maximum that is paid per night
for a Studio, 1 Bed, 2 Bed, 3 Bed & 4 Bed.

Sunderland City Council do not lease temporary accommodation from
landlords on a nightly basis. Therefore, we do not have a maximum paid per
night. We do however, in emergencies use holiday / short term let
accommodation booked via commercial websites such as booking.com. Cost
varies on factors such as demand or events in the area at approximately
£70 - £150 per night.

3.          Who are your largest 5 suppliers and how much do you pay them
on average every month and provide the last 3 month they have invoiced you
for?

The costs provided below, for the largest five suppliers of temporary
accommodation to Sunderland City Council, are based on projected costs for
financial year 2023/24.  This is because invoices are not always received
monthly and can relate to different length contracts during the year. 
Please note that these are gross costs and grant funding is used to
offset.

 1. Changing Lives – Commissioned services, which includes supported
accommodation and temporary accommodation. 3 months cost = £90,125
 2. Thirteen Housing Group - Commissioned services, which includes
supported accommodation and temporary accommodation. 3 months cost =
£41,400
 3. Travelodge – Average of £18,000 per month for the previous three
months. Booked via Click Travel on ad hoc basis.
 4. Sunderland Housing Service (Council wn Housing Stock) - Rent is
covered via housing benefit / housing element of universal credit with
separate commissioned support via Oasis Community Housing.
 5. Oasis Community Housing - Commissioned services, which includes
support and temporary accommodation. 3 months cost = £23,706.70

4.      If we were to supply accommodation on this basis, please can you
give us contact names and telephone numbers of the procurement team.

I confirm that the Council does hold the information you seek. However,
the Council is of the view that publishing officer information for grades
below those we are required by law to publish would be in excess of those
officers reasonable expectations and is therefore exempt under Section 40
(Personal Information) of the Freedom of Information Act.

We can provide details for the Assistant Director whose area of
responsibility includes the procurement team, and these are shown below:

Graham Scanlon

Assistant Director of Housing Services

Tel: (0191) 520 5555

This information has been provided in response to a Freedom of Information
request and this must be acknowledged in any subsequent use of the
information. In addition, the authority must be notified of any proposed
re-use of this information for commercial or other purposes.

I hope this is satisfactory. If, however, you are dissatisfied with our
response to your request for information, you can ask for the decision to
be reviewed in reply to this letter, however any request for review must
be submitted within 40 days of the date of this freedom of information
response. The review will be removed from the Directorate and coordinated
by the Council’s team of Solicitors. A request for review should be
directed, by email to [1][Sunderland City Council request email] by post or
by hand addressed to Business Support, Sunderland City Council, City Hall,
Plater Way SR1 3DP.

If this fails to resolve your concerns, then you have the right to apply
to the Information Commissioner for a decision.

Kind Regards

Angela

Angela Snowdon

Programmes and Compliance Officer

City Development Directorate

Sunderland City Council

Email: [2][email address]

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[4]www.sunderland.gov.uk

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