The Provision of Housing Support Services for Single People and Childless Couples who are Homeless and may have Complex Needs

Overview

The Service to be provided by the Provider is the provision of a Housing Support Service, primarily for single people or childless couples who are homeless and may have complex needs, residing in supported, interim accommodation. The Provider will also provide or make partnering arrangements with another organisation to provide a Housing Management Service for the accommodation at specific Premises and where applicable will enter into such associated lease arrangements with the owner landlord of the Premises as may be necessary for this purpose. The Housing Management Service does not form part of this Contract but is required to be delivered in conjunction with the Service. Tenderers can determine whether they will provide this service, or whether they will contract with another organisation to provide this service. How this related Housing Management Service is provided will directly impact upon Council budgets for the provision of homeless services and the amount of government funding available to support these services. The Council looks to maximise the monies available to better assist more Service Users. The specific Premises to support the Housing Support Service must be Specified Accommodation as defined by Law. The manner in which the Provider makes formal arrangements for the lease of the Premises will directly impact upon the Council and may result in higher costs to the Council. In respect of any subsidy shortfall however, while the Council cannot mandate how a Provider arranges their commercial business, the Council seeks to maximise the funds available to it to provide appropriate services and to allow maximum recovery, by the Council from the UK Government, of Housing Benefit paid for Service Users assessed as needing Housing Support Services. To assist the Council to maximise recovery of funds Tenderers would require to arrange that they are either (1) a Housing Association, a relevant body in accordance with Regulation 75H of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006 as amended and enter into the occupancy arrangement (lease between themselves and the Service Users) or alternatively (2) contract with a third party who is a Housing Association and they would enter into lease arrangements with the Service Users and make separate contractual arrangements directly with the Tenderer. Tenderers should be aware that Charities are also relevant bodies for the purpose of the Housing Benefit Regulations 2006, however arrangements made with a Charity would require to be referred to the Rent Officer who would set the amount recoverable, whereas Housing Association arrangements are not subject to this form of review which allows for greater recovery by the Council.