Test & Learn programme to tackle homelessness across the country
Centre for Homelessness Impact announces 71 areas that will work to build robust evidence of what really works in efforts to relieve and prevent rough sleeping.
The latest figures from the government show homelessness is on the rise. Homelessness is defined in Section 175 of the Housing Act 1996, and local authorities are legally obliged to take ‘reasonable steps’ to prevent or relieve such homelessness. When people who apply to a local housing authority for assistance because they are or are going to be homeless, they undergo an initial assessment.
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Between January and March 2024, 94,560 households in England received an initial assessment, up 10.8% on the figures for the previous year. However, the latest figures include some new categories in the total; without them, the rise is 6.1%.
Of these initial assessments, 86,520 households were found to be eligible. Some 48,040 households were initially assessed as being homeless – a rise of 11.4% on the previous year. Some 12,370 of these households had children – a rise of 6.9%. For more, see Statutory homlessness in England: January to March 2024.
This is a serious problem presenting a number of challenges. But the Centre for Homeless Impact has now announced a groundbreaking, nationwide initiative to generate new evidence on what works to prevent and relieve homelessness. Some 54 organisations in 71 areas across England are involved: 38 local authorities, 13 voluntary community and social enterprise organisations, and two companies. Between them, they’ll deliver eight innovative services, listed below, which the Test & Learn programme will evaluate over the next two and half years.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government will provide funding for these new services, meaning that even in the short term – before the initiative produces conclusions – thousands of people currently homeless or at risk of becoming so receive new forms of support.
Dr Lígia Teixeira, CEO of the Centre for Homelessness Impact, says: ‘This milestone marks a significant step forward in our mission to build a robust evidence base for ending homelessness. We are encouraged by the scale of interest and the dedication of the 54 organisations across 71 local areas who have joined our Test & Learn programme. While not every application could be successful, the enthusiasm and commitment from across the sector demonstrate a collective drive to find effective solutions for rough sleeping and homelessness. We look forward to working with these partners over the next two and a half years and sharing our findings to help shape future efforts and make a meaningful impact on ending homelessness for good.’
Cllr Sarah Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning and Deputy Leader of Haringey Council, says: ‘We are committed to improving the lives of our most vulnerable residents. This project is a testament to our dedication to providing comprehensive support and healthcare services to those in need.
‘This is another fantastic step forward, which will play a crucial role in ensuring people in our borough have the support they need to live better, healthier, and more fulfilling lives.’
The eight projects are:
Citadel
A volunteer-led homelessness prevention project supporting people with a history of rough sleeping and/or at risk of rough sleeping, with the aim to find or sustain their tenancies and establish a home. The Citadel project will run in Bexley, Bristol, Bromley, Cornwall, Greenwich, Hastings, Lambeth, Lewisham, Sheffield and Southwark. The delivery partner is Housing Justice and the evaluation partners Ipsos and IFF Research.
Personalised budgets
Providing financial support for people with a history of homelessness to help them out of it through such means as buying work tools, getting a driver’s licence or securing a deposit. The project will run in Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Westminster, Wandsworth, Lambeth, Havering, Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing, Camden, Barnet, Barnsley, Bradford, Manchester, Cambridge, Leicester, North West Leicestershire, Leeds, Newham, Tonbridge, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet, Dartford, Canterbury, Folkestone, Dover, Sevenoaks, Islington and Gravesham. The delivery partners are Delivery partners: Greater Change, Action Homeless, DePaul, Turning Lives Around, Your Place, Second Step, Porchlight, Centerpoint, Cambridge Cyrenians, Islington Council and Gravesham Council, and evaluation partners are King’s College London and IFF Research.
Individual Placement and Support (IPS)
This is a specialist employment service for people with experience of homelessness who have high support needs, focused on helping them to access paid employment immediately with ongoing in-work support. The project will operate in Barnsley, Rotherham, Sheffield, Barnet, Fareham, Wakefield, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. Delivery partners are IPS Grow, Beam, South Yorkshire Housing Association and Shropshire Council, and the evaluation partner is IFF Research.
Outreach with a health specialism
This involves a health specialist as part of a rough sleeping outreach team to test the benefit to those with more acute health needs and whether this has a positive impact on other individuals sleeping out. The project will operate in Liverpool, Solihull, Oldham, Ealing, Croydon, Haringey, Peterborough, Newham, Tameside, Greenwich, Watford, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Kingston upon Thames, Waltham Forest, Hounslow and Preston. The delivery partner is Change Grow Live and the evaluation partner Cardiff University.
Time-limited accommodation and immigration advice for people with limited eligibility to public funds
This project will provide legal advice and time-limited accommodation, usually for up to 20 weeks, for people sleeping rough who, due to their immigration status, have limited recourse to public funds. The project will run in Coventry, Reading, Wolverhampton and Luton, and the evaluation partner is the Behavioural Insights Team.
Accommodate or connect for individuals sleeping rough without a local connection
In this project, people sleeping rough who have no local connection to the area will be offered temporary accommodation there or supported to make a voluntary reconnection elsewhere. The project will run in Great Yarmouth, Cambridge, Hastings and Islington. The evaluation partner are King’s College London and London Economics.
Better use of council data to prevent homelessness
This project will use a data science platform to combine information from across the local authority to identify households at greater risk of homelessness due to financial stress. It will then offer support in a human-centred way, such as a payment plan to avoid court, bailiffs and additional costs. This project will run in Barking and Dagenham, Kensington and Chelsea, Stockport, Test Valley, Newham. The delivery partner is Xantura and the evaluation partners Verian Group and Simetrica-Jacobs.
Young people leaving care
Evaluation partners Verian Group and Simetrica-Jacobs will assess the Department for Education’s funding for intensive, individual support for young people leaving care, as well as joint working arrangements with local authority housing and other key services.
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