Exeter City Council aims to work with any person or household who is either threatened with homelessness or is already homeless. The ways in which we might work with someone can differ depending on their situation, needs and availability of housing.

Below is an explanation of some the duties we might owe someone who is making a homeless application and how we might try to help.

If we are satisfied that you are threatened with homelessness, we will owe you a prevention duty. If we are satisfied that you are already homeless, we will owe you a relief duty.

What is the difference between Prevention and Relief?

Preventing homelessness means providing people with ways and means to meet their housing needs in order to avoid experiencing homelessness.

Councils take positive action by providing housing assistance to households who are at risk of homelessness in the near future.  This is through enabling households to either remain in their current home or obtain alternative accommodation.

Relieving homelessness refers to where the council has assessed that they are satisfied that a person/ household is homeless, and they will be helped to find accommodation that is suitable for them to live in.

What advice do you have for people who are faced with homelessness?

Homelessness can happen to anyone, it could be a family member, a friend, colleague or to yourself. If you, or anyone you know is faced with the threat of homelessness/ is homeless it is vital to seek help at the earliest opportunity from your council.

The reasons for someone being threatened with homelessness can vary but some of the most common can be: -

• A landlord mentioning that they are looking to sell their property or
• If you are living in Private Rented accommodation and have been issued with a Section 21 Notice (a legal notice issued by your landlord to end your tenancy)
• If you are currently struggling to pay your rent or are experiencing growing problems with affording to live where you are
• Being asked to leave by a friend or family member.
• You might be experiencing relationship issues and wondering what your rights are and where you might live

Although the risk of homelessness can be a difficult issue for people to talk about it is vital to contact your council or other support service at early onset.  It may also be worth seeking accompaniment to any appointments so that someone has an advocate to aid understanding of the advice and assistance on offer. Advance planning is also encouraged to ensure impacts on employment, child welfare and schooling, pets, storage of belongings etc are taken into account should homelessness become a reality.

Depending on the reason for impending homelessness it is important to check that household income is being maximised and a savings plan is devised and agreed. Seeking advice on this and other resourcing options is important to do as soon as possible.

How does the Council prevent homelessness?

The Council undertakes prevention activities in the following ways: -

• liaison with landlords to retain current tenancies.
• checking the legality of a notice on a tenancy
• assisting households with debt or money management issues including discretionary housing payments towards rent and deposits.
• ensuring that household budgets are maximised.
• contact and mediation with friends and family.
• referral to other housing options.

The Council also works to help identify individual’s housing-related support needs and signposting to relevant services in order to prevent recurring homelessness where there is an underlying need for ongoing support.

What are the greatest challenges in preventing homelessness?

The most significant challenge is the availability and affordability of accommodation. Housing in Devon and particularly in Exeter is at a premium and landlords have a regular supply of prospective tenants from both the single professional and student markets making competition high for available housing. Affordability issues exist with the high demand: low supply market and can be exacerbated by social welfare reform. Household incomes are being negatively impacted by benefit cuts such as the household benefit cap, bedroom tax and reductions in working tax credit and HB eligibility thresholds.

Other challenges exist in the social and supported housing markets. Social housing building programmes are at their lowest ebb since the 1930s and there is great demand on this market particularly driven by the need for low-income households to be met with affordable rents. The local supply of supported housing for people with support needs such as mental health, drug and alcohol problems, or offending behaviours is also under pressure from cuts to funds that enable service providers to deliver support to individuals for tenancy sustainment purposes. Without appropriate support in place, it is increasingly challenging for individuals experiencing multiple disadvantages or co-ocurring conditions to maintain their tenancies and avoid becoming homeless.