Kath Dane, (Street Population Co-ordinator, Housing Options) presented the report. The report sought the approval of two small grants to organisations to fund, in addition to GLA funding, homelessness initiatives.

It was proposed that the first grant should be awarded to Praxis to fund bed spaces for non - UK nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

The second request sought to award funding to St Mungo’s, to provide specialist support for complex –co-dependant couples who were rough sleepers, based on a  best practice took kit funded through the GLA innovation fund. The Borough had identified six complex couples that have been rough sleeping.

The Mayor invited the Chair of GSSC to comment on the report. The GSSC were supportive of the proposed grant for Praxis given, amongst things, the current lack of clarity of the status of EU citizens. However, they had more issues with the proposal to fund St Mungo’s as they have attracted some public criticism for their work and that they already received funding from the Mayor of London. As a result, the GSSC questioned the need to provide a further grant to the organisation and how the grant would benefit Tower Hamlets residents. However, they welcomed the plans and felt that it was a good initiative for the Council to support and be involved in. The GSCC were satisfied with responses and supported the project. The GSSC endorsed the report. A summary of the GSSC comments were circulated to Members.

In response, Ms Dane addressed the concerns regarding St Mungo’s, and described in greater detail the benefits of the proposal and the council’s positive relationship with St Mungo’s.

The Mayor then invited GDSC Members to comment on the report. The GSDC supported the proposals

DECISION

1.         That a grant for £15,000 to Praxis be approved to fund supported bed spaces for non-UK nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

2.         That a grant for £30,000 to St Mungo’s  be approved to provide intensive specialist support to hostel staff and rough sleeping couples in Tower Hamlets based on best practice.

Kath Dane, (Street Population Co-ordinator, Housing Options) presented the report. The report sought the approval of two small grants to organisations to fund, in addition to GLA funding, homelessness initiatives.

It was proposed that the first grant should be awarded to Praxis to fund bed spaces for non - UK nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

The second request sought to award funding to St Mungo’s, to provide specialist support for complex –co-dependant couples who were rough sleepers, based on a  best practice took kit funded through the GLA innovation fund. The Borough had identified six complex couples that have been rough sleeping.

The Mayor invited the Chair of GSSC to comment on the report. The GSSC were supportive of the proposed grant for Praxis given, amongst things, the current lack of clarity of the status of EU citizens. However, they had more issues with the proposal to fund St Mungo’s as they have attracted some public criticism for their work and that they already received funding from the Mayor of London. As a result, the GSSC questioned the need to provide a further grant to the organisation and how the grant would benefit Tower Hamlets residents. However, they welcomed the plans and felt that it was a good initiative for the Council to support and be involved in. The GSCC were satisfied with responses and supported the project. The GSSC endorsed the report. A summary of the GSSC comments were circulated to Members.

In response, Ms Dane addressed the concerns regarding St Mungo’s, and described in greater detail the benefits of the proposal and the council’s positive relationship with St Mungo’s.

The Mayor then invited GDSC Members to comment on the report. The GSDC supported the proposals

RESOLVED:

1.         That a grant for £15,000 to Praxis be approved to fund supported bed spaces for non-UK nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

2.         That a grant for £30,000 to St Mungo’s  be approved to provide intensive specialist support to hostel staff and rough sleeping couples in Tower Hamlets based on best practice.

Ms Kath Dane, Street Population Coordinator presented her report on Non-Uk Rough Sleepers and Complex Couples who are rough sleeping. She informed members the report was seeking two small grants both to be paid from the MH CLG Homelessness Prevention Grant.

The first grant is for £15,000 to Praxis to fund supported be spaces for non-Uk nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

The second grant is for £30,000 to St Mungo’s to provide intensive specialist support to hostel staff and rough sleeping couples in Tower Hamlets.

In response to questions from Members the following was noted:

·         Ms Kath Dane stated it was vital to target non EEA Rough Sleepers as this group of rough sleepers are more likely to stay with friends, go to a shelter or remain on the streets after experiencing illness. Ms Dane said this cohort has the least amount of resources allocated to it. The grant to Praxis will provide 12 bed spaces for non EEA rough sleepers as well as provide them with access to immigration advice and help with documentation.

·         Members expressed concern over St Mungo’s controversial reputation including within the homelessness sector however Ms Dane reassured Members that this grant was seeking to target co-dependant couples who sleep rough. She said St Mungo’s would be offering assistance with training and would be providing additional expertise looking at how we can work with complex co-dependant couples who sleep rough. Ms Dane stated there were 6 known couples within the borough who would benefit from this pioneering work.

·         In response to how many homeless people both organisations would target and work with, Ms Dane said it would be difficult to gauge as the aims of both projects are different and each case would be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

The Sub-Committee RESOLVED to AGREE and ENDORSE the recommendations made to the Grants Determination Sub-Committee to:

1.    Approve a grant for £15,000 to Praxis to fund supported bed spaces for non-UK nationals with complex and unresolved immigration status who are rough sleeping in Tower Hamlets.

2.    Approve a grant for £30,000 to St Mungo’s to provide intensive specialist support to hostel staff and rough sleeping couples in Tower Hamlets based on best practice.