EHDC Corporate Information

Strategies & Action Plans - HOUSING EQUALITIES AND DIVERSITY ACTION PLAN - Action Plan Targets

Actions and Targets

1. DISABILITY

ACTION

RESOURCES/PARTNERS

OUTCOME

TARGET

To introduce a Disability Housing Register

EHDC

Partner Housing Associations

Ability Housing Association

GOSE

Cost £22,000

To increase the supply and choice of affordable housing for people with disabilities. To reduce waiting time on the Council’s Joint Housing register. To maximise resources and make savings on DFG funding.

Launch pilot – April 2005

On all new build housing development, establish the feasibility of providing homes that are fully wheelchair adapted for the disabled.

EHDC

Housing Associations

Housing Corporation

To increase the supply and choice of affordable housing for people with disabilities. To reduce waiting time on the Council’s Joint Housing Register. To meet housing need.

1% of new housing scheme.

To provide Disability Awareness training to all members of housing staff

EHDC

To increase awareness and understanding of the needs of people with disability.

2 new housing officers to receive training by March 2006.

To implement actions arising from Disability Awareness Day held in March 2005.

EHDC

Kingsley Centre

Social Services

Housing Associations

To develop and understand the links between public sector housing and private sector housing. To consider all options concerning housing for disabled people.

Awareness Day was held 22/3/05. Actions will be ongoing.

2. RACE

To monitor and investigate reported incidents of racial harassment

EHDC

Housing Associations

Police

Victim Support

Multi Agency Reporting Packs

To ensure that reported incidents are recorded and investigated appropriately.

Annual statistic to be recorded.

To promote and monitor the Racial Harassment Call Helpline.

Winchester CC

Fareham BC

Havant DC

EHDC

Community Safety Partnership

Staff Time

£1000 per annum

To establish level of use of helpline and whether service is effective and demonstrates value for money.

Summer 2005

To monitor lettings to BME households to Housing Association tenancies.

Housing Associations

Staff Time

CORE services

To demonstrate that BME households are able to access public sector housing.

Annual letting figures from April 2005 until March 2008

Front line housing staff to undertake training on how to deal with victims of racial harassment.

EHDC

Portsmouth City Council Racial Harassment Officer

Housing Associations

Members

To ensure that officers are compliant with the duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

One event per year.

On request, provide translation services or an interpreter to translate housing documents or policies.

EHDC

Language Line

Housing services and policies are understood by individuals who are unable to read or speak English.

£150 per translation

Contribute to the work of the Council’s Race Advisory Group.

EHDC

Housing Associations

To consult with BME and Hard to Reach Groups on policies of the Council.

Officer time

3. OLDER PEOPLE

Re-development of Weston House Sheltered Housing Scheme

Drum HA

EHDC

Regional Housing Board Funding

To develop high quality housing and facilities that will better meet the needs of over 55’s in future.

Planning Consent April 2005, Start on Site Sept 2005

Completion Sept 2006

To implement a pilot project for sensory equipment (Tunstall Alarm Service/Smart Homes technology/Life Link) to enable independent living for older people.

Drum HA

East Hants PCT

Hampshire County Council

EHDC

Enable older people to remain living longer in their homes independently, monitor risk and prevent or defer hospital admissions - improve quality of life.

Systems were ‘silent running’ in January 2005 – Live Feb 2005 First evaluations expected by July 2005. HCC have sponsored pilot for one year, but project will be ongoing if successful.

£11,200 by each partner

To implement actions from the Home Energy Action Plan including promotion of Warm Front.

EHDC

Staying Put

SEEAC

To reduce fuel poverty and winter mortality rates through inadequate heating in homes.

Safe & Sound conference to be held in May 05.

Warm Homes Week Nov 05

£2000 per year

4.0 GENDER

Promote and monitor Call Helpline for victims of Homophobic Harassment

EHDC

Housing Associations

Victim Support

Police

To signpost specialist services for victims of homophobic harassment

Promotion -July 05, Monitoring until July 06

£1000 per year

Develop a reporting mechanism for victims of homophobic harassment

BME/Equal Opportunities Group

Community Gay & Lesbian Police Officers

Housing Associations

To monitor the level of harassment in the district.

£500

5.0 YOUNG PEOPLE

Maintain the number of supported lodgings for young homeless persons

EHDC

Stoneham HA

To reduce numbers of young people approaching the Council as homeless.

1 lodging place per year = £9000

Monitor impact of supported housing schemes at Leslie Nation Court and Poppy House (Innovations Project)

EHDC

Drum

To determine whether the Innovations Project has been effective. To measure customer satisfaction.

Impact assessment surveys undertaken by March 2006.

To monitor the number of teenage mothers.

EHDC

Supporting People Core Group

To measure the level of support to ensure that Supporting People Funding is targeted effectively.

Annual Count.

6.0 GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS

Housing Advisors to undertake training on assessing the housing needs of Gypsies and Travellers and to understand the impact of Housing Act 2004.

EHDC

Gypsy and Travellers Officer Hampshire County Council

To ensure that the new duties under the Housing Act 2004 are met and that homelessness applications are not subject to judicial review. Establish a strategy for implementing the assessment.

Legal Training Network

£100 per person

Staff Time

7.0 ANTI SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR

To follow the EHCSP protocol for reported anti social behaviour

EHDC

Housing Associations

Community Safety Partnership

Floating Support

Victim Support

To contribute to providing safe and cohesive communities where people wish to live.

Ongoing 2005-2008

8.0 DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

To respond to reported cases of domestic violence in line with the agreed protocol of East Hampshire Domestic Violence Forum.

EHDC

Housing Associations

Floating Support

Stoneham Housing Association

Victim Support

Community Safety Partnership

Improving access to information and services for victims and practitioners.

£7000 per annum from CSP.

Owner: Housing Development Manager (Policy Created: 1st April 2005)

ACTION	RESOURCES/PARTNERS	OUTCOME	TARGET
To introduce a Disability Housing Register	EHDC Partner Housing Associations Ability Housing Association GOSE Cost £22,000	To increase the supply and choice of affordable housing for people with disabilities. To reduce waiting time on the Council’s Joint Housing register. To maximise resources and make savings on DFG funding.	Launch pilot – April 2005
On all new build housing development, establish the feasibility of providing homes that are fully wheelchair adapted for the disabled.	EHDC Housing Associations Housing Corporation	To increase the supply and choice of affordable housing for people with disabilities. To reduce waiting time on the Council’s Joint Housing Register. To meet housing need.	1% of new housing scheme.
To provide Disability Awareness training to all members of housing staff	EHDC	To increase awareness and understanding of the needs of people with disability.	2 new housing officers to receive training by March 2006.
To implement actions arising from Disability Awareness Day held in March 2005.	EHDC Kingsley Centre Social Services Housing Associations	To develop and understand the links between public sector housing and private sector housing. To consider all options concerning housing for disabled people.	Awareness Day was held 22/3/05. Actions will be ongoing.

To monitor and investigate reported incidents of racial harassment	EHDC Housing Associations Police Victim Support Multi Agency Reporting Packs	To ensure that reported incidents are recorded and investigated appropriately.	Annual statistic to be recorded.
To promote and monitor the Racial Harassment Call Helpline.	Winchester CC Fareham BC Havant DC EHDC Community Safety Partnership Staff Time £1000 per annum	To establish level of use of helpline and whether service is effective and demonstrates value for money.	Summer 2005
To monitor lettings to BME households to Housing Association tenancies.	Housing Associations Staff Time CORE services	To demonstrate that BME households are able to access public sector housing.	Annual letting figures from April 2005 until March 2008
Front line housing staff to undertake training on how to deal with victims of racial harassment.	EHDC Portsmouth City Council Racial Harassment Officer Housing Associations Members	To ensure that officers are compliant with the duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.	One event per year.
On request, provide translation services or an interpreter to translate housing documents or policies.	EHDC Language Line	Housing services and policies are understood by individuals who are unable to read or speak English.	£150 per translation
Contribute to the work of the Council’s Race Advisory Group.	EHDC Housing Associations	To consult with BME and Hard to Reach Groups on policies of the Council.	Officer time

Re-development of Weston House Sheltered Housing Scheme	Drum HA EHDC Regional Housing Board Funding	To develop high quality housing and facilities that will better meet the needs of over 55’s in future.	Planning Consent April 2005, Start on Site Sept 2005 Completion Sept 2006
To implement a pilot project for sensory equipment (Tunstall Alarm Service/Smart Homes technology/Life Link) to enable independent living for older people.	Drum HA East Hants PCT Hampshire County Council EHDC	Enable older people to remain living longer in their homes independently, monitor risk and prevent or defer hospital admissions - improve quality of life.	Systems were ‘silent running’ in January 2005 – Live Feb 2005 First evaluations expected by July 2005. HCC have sponsored pilot for one year, but project will be ongoing if successful. £11,200 by each partner
To implement actions from the Home Energy Action Plan including promotion of Warm Front.	EHDC Staying Put SEEAC	To reduce fuel poverty and winter mortality rates through inadequate heating in homes.	Safe & Sound conference to be held in May 05. Warm Homes Week Nov 05 £2000 per year

Promote and monitor Call Helpline for victims of Homophobic Harassment	EHDC Housing Associations Victim Support Police	To signpost specialist services for victims of homophobic harassment	Promotion -July 05, Monitoring until July 06 £1000 per year
Develop a reporting mechanism for victims of homophobic harassment	BME/Equal Opportunities Group Community Gay & Lesbian Police Officers Housing Associations	To monitor the level of harassment in the district.	£500

Maintain the number of supported lodgings for young homeless persons	EHDC Stoneham HA	To reduce numbers of young people approaching the Council as homeless.	1 lodging place per year = £9000
Monitor impact of supported housing schemes at Leslie Nation Court and Poppy House (Innovations Project)	EHDC Drum	To determine whether the Innovations Project has been effective. To measure customer satisfaction.	Impact assessment surveys undertaken by March 2006.
To monitor the number of teenage mothers.	EHDC Supporting People Core Group	To measure the level of support to ensure that Supporting People Funding is targeted effectively.	Annual Count.