Performance

How did we do in 2007/8? 

Temporary Accommodation

We have worked hard to reduce the number of households staying in temporary accommodation (mostly households which have been found to be homeless by the council and to whom we have a statutory duty to house). At the end of March 2008 the number of households in temporary accommodation was down to 496, a reduction of 15% from March 2007. We aim to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation further to 450 or less by the end of March 2009. This has also produced big savings for the Council - we saved nearly a million pounds on temporary accommodation compared to the previous year. 

The government has asked all councils to reduce the number of households in temporary accommodation by half by 2010 using the number of households in temporary accommodation at the beginning of 2005 as the starting point. We are on track to reach the target (476) in 2008 already. 

Number of households in temporary acommodation

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homeless Claims and Acceptances

Through continued homelessness prevention work the council has reduced the number of people becoming homeless. The Housing Options team saw over 3,000 people at it's duty service in the last year; visited more than 600 people; and assisted nearly 300 households to access private rented accommodation by helping with a deposit. In 2007/08 we accepted 196 households as statutory homeless. In 2008/09, we aim to reduce homeless acceptances to 180 or less by helping more people to stay in their existing homes or by assisting them in other ways. 

Claims and acceptances

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rough Sleeping & Single Homelessness

The number of people recorded as sleeping rough in the city has reduced over the long term but this remains an ongoing issue. In March 2008 13 people were counted sleeping rough against 52 in 1998. We aim to keep to our long-term target of 8 or fewer rough sleepers, and work closely with various agencies to achieve this.

The city has successfully bid for 2.3 million pounds of government funding to develop services that will improve the lives of homeless people and increase their chances of leading settled lives in the future. This includes among other things the refurbishment of the Old Fire Station into a community facility.

Rough sleeper count

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allocations

In July 2007, we changed to a banding priority scheme. This was designed to make the assessment of housing need more straightforward and easier for customers to understand. In January 2008, Choice Based Lettings was introduced, and all social housing is now allocated through this scheme. 

Over the last year, 633 households were allocated new tenancies with the Council or our partner Housing Associations in Oxford - just over half of these were allocated to families.

The number of applicants applying to be included on the housing register has continued to increase, with many more people applying to us for housing each year than we can possibly help. In 2007/08, we received 2,262 new applications to join the list.

New Affordable Homes

A total of 56 new affordable homes (social rented and shared ownership) were developed in Oxford during 2007/08. This was below the council's annual target of 150 affordable homes. However, this is because quite a few of the homes that were expected to be completed in 2007/08 were completed early in 2006/07. More than 250 new affordable homes will be provided in 2008/09.

New affordable homes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other highlights of the year

The good work of the Housing Needs team was recognised by Government and we have been made 'Regional Homeless Champions'. Extra funds have been allocated to Oxford and we have a role in helping other local authorities improve their service. 

The Joint Housing Team was launched with the County Council's Children and Young People team, and other agencies, to provide a better service for young people. The team is working to expand a 'supported lodgings scheme' where young people can live with a host family, amongst other initiatives. This work has also been recognised, and the Government recently made it a 'Centre for Excellence for Youth Homelessness'.

Page last reviewed 27 Jun 2008

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