FOI Request - Temporary Homeless Accommodation
Request 101003124695
I am writing to make a request for information with reference to the questions below. The questions in relation to this Freedom of Information request relate to suitable temporary accommodation for homeless households under s29 of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987, as amended (the “1987 Act”) and the Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2014, as amended (the “UAO”).
1. Since 1 May 2020, have you carried out any Equality Impact Assessment(s) (EqIAs) in relation to your practices and policies for managing/maintaining your stock of temporary homeless accommodation and for sourcing/procuring temporary homeless accommodation? If so, please provide a copy of all such EqIAs.
2. Since 1 May 2020, have you carried out any Equality Impact Assessment(s) in relation to your practices and policies for performing your duty under s29 of the 1987 Act and the UAO, i.e. securing that suitable temporary accommodation is made available for a homeless person and their household? If so, please provide a copy of all such EqIAs.
3. In addition to any EqIAs provided in response to questions 1 and 2, please provide us with a copy of any and all EqIAs regarding temporary homeless accommodation carried out between 1 May 2020 and present.
4. Do you monitor the numbers of disabled homeless applicants and those within their household who have a disability? If so, how?
5. Do you monitor the numbers of disabled persons who are accommodated in temporary accommodation? If so, how?
6. Do you monitor the needs of disabled homeless applicants and those within their household who have a disability? If so, how?
7. Do you monitor (1) the composition of your temporary accommodation stock in order to meet the needs of disabled homeless applicants and those within their household who have a disability, and (2) the provision of that accommodation to homeless applicants/households? If so, how?
8. What steps do you take to comply with the anticipatory duty to make reasonable adjustments in relation to the provision of temporary homeless accommodation to disabled homeless applicants and those within their household who have a disability?
Response 02-09-2022
1. Since this date, we have not carried out any Equality Impact Assessment specifically in relation to our practices and policies for managing/maintaining our stock of temporary homeless accommodation, however, our most recent RRTP (still subject to committee approval) has an EqIA.
A full review of our Homelessness Policy and procedures is due to be undertaken in 2023 when the EqIA is also scheduled to be updated.
2. As answered in question 1.
3. As answered in question 1.
4. This was monitored previously as part of the statutory performance framework (ARC) but this was not required/requested after 2019/20. We now monitor this locally as part of our Housing Needs and Demand Assessment and our Local Housing Strategy.
5. We monitor this by obtaining monthly reports.
6. As answered in question 5.
7. We have a Temporary Accommodation Working Group which comprises of Senior Operational Managers within the Housing Needs Section who meet every 3 weeks to discuss live cases and determine the number of temporary accommodation units required to meet statutory homelessness duties towards all clients including those with disabilities. The fit between supply of, and demand for, temporary accommodation is subject to continuous monitoring, re-assessment and reconfiguration. This flexible approach allows the Council to minimise the cost of temporary accommodation and ensure appropriate stock is provided in required locations.
8. As answered in question 7.