See answers to previous information requests

I am writing to you under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to request the following information on the implementation of Housing First programmes in your local authority area. Could you please provide responses to the following questions:

1. Is your local authority running a Housing First programme? If so, how many?
Yes, Wokingham is currently running two Housing First programmes. One is specifically targeted at entrenched rough sleepers, while the other is designed to support young people under the age of 25.

If yes, please complete the following:
2. Is your Housing First scheme run by the local authority or by an external partner?
The schemes are both run by the local authority.

3. How many individuals can your Housing First programme(s) support at any given time?
Each scheme has a maximum capacity of 7 individuals, meaning our Housing First programme can support a total of 14 individuals at any given time.

4. How many individuals are either:
a) Currently on a waiting list for Housing First support?
b) Assessed as eligible but not currently receiving support due to capacity constraints or any other reason? If you cannot provide this, please still provide 4a.
We do not maintain an active waiting list for Housing First support. Instead, when capacity becomes available, a nominations panel takes place. This meeting comprises of multi agency professionals, reviews referrals, seeks additional referrals if necessary and determines eligibility based on assessed needs and the potential benefits of a housing first offer. As such, there is no formal waiting list in operation.

5. Please provide the most up to date cost benefit analysis (CBA) or cost estimate analysis (CEA) estimating the costs of support provided by your Housing First service(s) and the value of benefits delivered. For this request, please provide the information including itemised costs, benefits, and any other underlying data including discounting used and your methodology. If you have not conducted a CEA or CBA please provide any cost estimates and any benefit estimates that you have. Please prioritise costs if you cannot provide other information. For this request, please provide the information including estimation methodology in a word or pdf document with underlying data preferably as .xlsx or .csv. If you cannot provide the underlying data, please still provide the methodology.
The funding and allocation amount for our Housing First programme is secured through a competitive grant application process. Applications are submitted to the commissioning provider – in this case Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This bid is assessed by central government based on value for money considerations before funding is awarded. As such, CBA or CEA is conducted by central government as part of this process. Therefore, we are unable to provide the requested itemised costs, benefits or methodologies.

6. What is the current length of the funding period for your Housing First provision?
The funding period for the Entrenched Rough Sleeping Housing First Programme runs at least until the end of the current financial year. The Young Persons Programme is funded for an additional two years.

7. How is your Housing First programme funded? For example, local authority homelessness funding (through pots like the Rough Sleepers Initiative or the Homeless Prevention Grant), local authority funding via adult social care (e.g. adult social care or public health) and/or charitable grants or partnership.
The Housing First Programme is funded through local authority homelessness funding provided by MHCLG:
- Entrenched Rough Sleeping Housing First Programme is funded through the Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP) now known as the Rough Sleeping Accommodation Programme (RSAP)
- Young Persons Housing First Programme is funded through the Single Homelessness Accommodation Programme (SHAP)

8. What is the primary source of housing for your Housing First programme? For example, council housing, housing association, or private rented sector.
The housing for both schemes is sourced from a mix of council housing and registered provider accommodation.