Strategic Housing Services Information and Key Priorities 2008-09

The purpose of this section is to outline to you the structure of the Strategic Housing Service and explain the work that is carried out in each of the different sections.

Strategic Housing Services is one of three ‘strands’ of the Housing and Public protection department, (the other strands are Public Protection and Landlord services). You will find the detail of each the sections below.

1. Housing Strategy and Standards

The Housing Strategy department is responsible for implementing the local housing strategy.

The Strategy states that the ‘vision for Wrexham is to see a future housing market which enables residents to meet their housing needs and aspirations.’

The Strategy team is responsible for:

The Service also aims to raise standards in the private sector. A team of Environmental Health Officers carry out inspections of properties, including Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s), enforcing legislation in respect of Housing Standards. The Housing Standards Team is responsible for:

  • Property inspections – under the Housing Health and Safety Rating system, including fire precautions, means of escape, overcrowding, amenities and hazards.
  • Improvement & Enforcement to achieve proper standards
  • Investigation  of  complaints from  tenants or neighbours of rented properties
  • Inspection and licensing of Houses in Multiple occupation
  • To support and promote the Landlord Accreditation Wales scheme
  • Working with landlords through the Private Sector Landlords Forum to improve standards in the private rented sector through information and advice. 
  • Reducing numbers of empty properties within the borough, through the Empty homes Strategy
  • Giving advice to landlords, tenants, letting agents etc

2. Supporting People

Supporting People is a national funding framework set up in 2003, for delivering housing related support services to vulnerable people, promoting independence in the community.

There are two funding streams

  • Supporting People grant (SPG), given to the LA by the WAG to fund housing related support services to older people and community care client  groups, and
  • Supporting People Revenue Grant(SPRG) which is paid by WAG directly to  providers of supported housing services for all  other vulnerable client groups

Examples of services funded in these ways are:

  • Sheltered housing for older people
  • Women’s refuge
  • Tenancy support to people with substance misuse issues
  • Supported accommodation for people with Learning disabilities

The team are responsible for delivering the Supporting people programme in Wrexham. The work involves:

  • Setting up contracts and contract monitoring
  • Developing the annual Supporting People Operational Plan(SPOP)
  • Commissioning new services

3. Housing Renewal

This service aims to improve the quality of housing and health of residents, through provision of grant funded schemes and initiatives, in partnership with other agencies such as Care and Repair.

Much of the provision of the team is concerned with providing adaptations through Disabled Facilities grants, which enables people to continue living at home and promotes their independence and safety around the house.

Other schemes currently operating are:

  • Home repair assistance
  • ‘Houseproud’ ( North Wales home Loans initiative)
  • Keep Safe  injury prevention scheme
  • Dementia with Telecare scheme
  • Wrexham Warm homes

In addition the team is also responsible for the Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy.

4. Area Renewal

The Area Renewal Team is responsible for the supervision and administration of work within declared housing renewal areas .Currently Wrexham has two housing renewal areas Smithfield/ Hightown, Brymbo /Broughton, and South West Wrexham. The aims and objectives are to instil confidence and act as a catalyst to other investment by improving the quality of private sector housing and carrying out environmental improvements to enhance the image of the areas.

Approximately £2.5 m per annum is expended within the Housing Renewal areas on group repair schemes repairing and improving the external fabric of privately owned houses and on numerous environmental schemes.
Prior to declaring a Housing Renewal area, a twelve month public consultation exercise known as a neighbourhood renewal assessment is required.

In addition the team is also responsible for the Private Sector Housing Renewal Strategy along with the Housing Renewal team.

5. Homelessness

The Homelessness team is based in Lambpit street, and provides advice and assistance to people who are homeless or potentially homeless. The team manage units of temporary accommodation in which people are placed while investigations are carried out by the team into their homeless status. If a person is found homeless and in priority need, according to the legislation,  they will be assisted into finding permanent accommodation.

The priority need categories are:

  • A pregnant woman
  • A person with dependant children
  • A person who is vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness, disability etc.
  • A person made homeless through fire, flood or disaster
  • A care leaver or person at risk of sexual or financial exploitation( 18 or over, under21)
  • A person fleeing domestic violence
  • A person homeless after leaving the armed forces
  • A former prisoner homeless after being released from custody
  • 16/17 year olds

In addition a great deal of focussed work takes place on prevention of homelessness, by two dedicated Homeless Prevention Officers, who have operated since   April 2006, and has been very successful to date, assisting people with  negotiating with their landlord , or with family members, to enable them to remain  in their current accommodation, instead of being made homeless.

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