Decision details

The Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has asked local authorities to make every effort possible to support rough sleepers and homeless households at risk of rough sleeping in terms of accommodation and support, notably to maximise Covid vaccination rates.

To this end, on 20th December 2021, the council was awarded £61,480 towards accommodation and £7,953 for vaccination support among this client group.

These monies are being paid as a ring-fenced grant paid under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003.

DLUHC has stated ‘the purpose of the grant is to:
• subject to individual assessments, make offers of safe and appropriate accommodation and support to people who are rough sleeping in order to facilitate vaccinations and safeguard from infection from COVID-19; and
• increase take-up of vaccinations among people sleeping rough by providing appropriate incentives…’.

Enter into a contract of a value of £30,158 with One YMCA to block purchase five units of accommodation with support for rough sleepers and homeless households for a period of 14 weeks

Option 1 - Not enter into a contract with One YMCA – REJECTED.

The council does not directly provide accommodation with significant levels of support for rough sleepers / those at risk of rough sleeping as envisaged by the DLUHC. While other organisations, operating in neighbouring districts, provide this form of accommodation and support, One YMCA (a) is recognised as a specialist provider in Hertfordshire (and already provides accommodation for other client groups in the district), (b) has accommodation available in Hatfield and (c) is willing to enter into a temporary block purchase with immediate effect.

In addition the DLUHC grant is predicated on the council acting swiftly to use it to support this particularly vulnerable client group during the Omicron Covid wave. Therefore, it is the view of the Head of Housing and Health that both (a) choosing not to provide any accommodation with support and (b) carrying out a full procurement exercise should be rejected.

Option 2 - Enter into a contract of a value of £30,158 with One YMCA to block purchase five units of accommodation with support for rough sleepers and homeless households for a period of 14 weeks - APPROVED