Homelessness Review 2017/18 Conwy County Borough Council Full Report February 2018 Main Contact: David Tonks Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0800 612 9133 Website: www.arc4.co.uk © 2018 arc4 Limited (Company No. 06205180) Conwy Homelessness Review Page | 2 This Homelessness Review has been prepared by arc4 Ltd on behalf of Conwy County Council. The Review itself provides a detailed analysis of the levels and nature of homelessness, an audit of the services and a review of the resources available to spend on homelessness within the county. It also provides an evidence base for the emerging Local Housing Strategy as well as a specific Homelessness Strategy. This Homelessness Review has been prepared and undertaken by arc4 Ltd on behalf of Conwy County Borough Council. As such this Review complies with the associated and relevant legislation (Part 2 (Homelessness) of the Housing (Wales) Act - 2014) along with the Welsh Government's Code of Guidance on the Allocation of Accommodation and Homelessness (2016). This Homelessness Review will form the principle element of the required evidence base for Conwy CBC. It sets out to identify, capture and quantify the levels of current provision and future demand for homelessness services within the borough and through its findings will underpin and inform the development of both a local service level response as well as the development of a Sub-regional Homelessness Strategy for North Wales. This Homelessness Review forms part of a suite of similar commissioned reviews for the six* North Wales local authorities scheduled to be completed by arc4 Ltd in the first half of 2018. * Conwy; Denbighshire; Flintshire; Gwynedd; Wrexham; Anglesey February 2018 Conwy Homelessness Review Page | 3 Table of Contents 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 10 2. Homelessness Review and Strategy Development .......................................................... 11 Strategic Groups and Links ............................................................................................... 11 Methodology .................................................................................................................... 11 3. Strategic Links and National Policy .................................................................................. 12 National Strategic Context ............................................................................................... 12 Welfare Reform ................................................................................................................ 17 Regional Strategic Context ............................................................................................... 21 Local Strategic context ..................................................................................................... 23 Legal Context .................................................................................................................... 28 4. Profile of Conwy ............................................................................................................... 31 Population ........................................................................................................................ 32 Equalities Key Statistics .................................................................................................... 32 Indices of Multiple Deprivation ........................................................................................ 33 Housing in Conwy County Borough ................................................................................. 34 Economy ........................................................................................................................... 36 Health & Social Care ......................................................................................................... 37 Rural Conwy ..................................................................................................................... 37 5. Conwy’s Housing Market ................................................................................................. 39 Key Statistics ..................................................................................................................... 39 Tenure .............................................................................................................................. 41 Owner Occupation Affordability ...................................................................................... 42 Private Rented Sector ...................................................................................................... 43 Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) ............................................................................ 46 Social Rented Sector......................................................................................................... 47 Empty & Second Homes ................................................................................................... 49 Housing Supply ................................................................................................................. 53 Local Housing Market Assessment 2017.......................................................................... 55 6. Homeless Levels across Conwy ........................................................................................ 57 National Picture across Wales 2016/17 ........................................................................... 57 Homelessness in Conwy ................................................................................................... 61 Homelessness Data .......................................................................................................... 61 Housing Solutions ............................................................................................................. 62 Homelessness Statistics ................................................................................................... 63 Housing Register .............................................................................................................. 83 Conwy Court Desks Information ...................................................................................... 93 February 2018 Conwy Homelessness Review Page | 4 Supporting People Data ................................................................................................... 95 Other Data ........................................................................................................................ 99 Chapter Summary and Recommendations .................................................................... 101 7. Rough Sleeping ............................................................................................................... 104 Services ........................................................................................................................... 104 Levels of Rough Sleeping ................................................................................................ 105 Data from Other Sources ............................................................................................... 106 Supporting People Needs Mapping ............................................................................... 107 Other Sources of Information ........................................................................................ 108 Summary ........................................................................................................................ 108 Chapter Summary and Recommendations .................................................................... 110 8. Services Available for the Prevention of Homelessness ................................................ 111 Housing Solutions Team ................................................................................................. 111 Service Reviews .............................................................................................................. 117 Citizens Advice Bureau Conwy ....................................................................................... 121 Shelter Cymru ................................................................................................................. 122 Chapter Summary and Recommendations .................................................................... 126 9. Accommodation and Support Available for People who are Homeless or Threatened with Homelessness 127 Temporary Accommodation .......................................................................................... 127 Emergency Accommodation .......................................................................................... 127 Supported Accommodation ........................................................................................... 127 Supported Accommodation & Floating Support ............................................................ 128 Move On ......................................................................................................................... 132 Social Housing ................................................................................................................ 132 Affordable housing ......................................................................................................... 133 Private Rented Sector .................................................................................................... 133 Rent