“Crisis provides the critical friend role and the leadership within the Data Workstream to a very high standard. They are able to work with complexity and multiple tensions and tolerate uncertainty while providing direction and advice. Their interpersonal skills are of great value to the system and their ability to draw in other Crisis colleagues has been very helpful” Countywide Strategic Homelessness Officer, Oxfordshire County Councils

February 2021 - Present | Housing-led transition

Challenge

Following the publication of our Housing-led feasibility study in January 2020, Oxfordshire councils developed their first county-wide Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy which confirmed their commitment to an inter-agency, cross-sector partnership approach to ending homelessness in the county. 

The strategy commits to significant innovations including a Housing-led approach, with expansion of Housing First provision so that people are supported in tenancies rather than needing to prove they are tenancy ready. The strategy also commits to develop systems, including implementing the use of a By Name List to ensure real time data informs decisions and developments at a system level, and facilitates better coordinated case management approaches to prevent and support people out of homelessness. 

The ambition contained within the 5 year strategy requires significant change. Coordination across the county with good governance structures, coordinated services and reliable data were identified as areas where Crisis could help. We worked with them to prioritise workstreams and actions that needed immediate attention; and agreed a partnership to provide ongoing support, advice, challenge and coaching.

Solution

The initial partnership was for 12 months, and we agreed to provide support to: 

• Develop countywide governance structures to implement the homelessness system transformation work
• Take a new approach to commissioning a Housing-led alliance of support providers
• Coordinate countywide approaches to housing allocation, particularly for Housing First
• Scope and improve data systems to support the implementation of a By Name List 

We have spent time building relationships with key stakeholders in all of the local authorities and statutory bodies, in order to provide tailored advice and support around governance and system leadership. We have provided advice and support to simplify countywide governance in relation to homelessness, and helped develop Terms of Reference and reporting structures for the Countywide Homelessness Director’s group, the Countywide Homelessness Steering Group and the working groups reporting into both. Crisis has provided a representative to join the steering group to support the delivery of their aims.

A number of the recommendations in the Housing-Led feasibility study related to improvements needed in access and allocation of social housing to those experiencing homelessness. We convened a meeting of social landlords across Oxfordshire to discuss the recommendations, possible solutions and build support and momentum for implementation of a number of the recommendations. We have supported the development of a new countywide allocations process for Housing First, and continue to participate in the working group focused on improving housing supply for single homeless people in the county. 

Working with the newly formed countywide commissioning team, we have helped to shape the specification for a Housing-led alliance approach to providing non-statutory homelessness support across Oxfordshire. We have also worked closely with council homelessness teams and existing commissioned providers to explore existing approaches to data collection, reporting and case management to develop proposed improvements with a focus on achieving real time, by name data at a county level. We supported the development of a business case to recruit a dedicated data transformation manager and  have led on the formation of a countywide data development working group to oversee the data transformation work. 

Impact

Using existing knowledge and the insights from our feasibility study, we have helped the Oxfordshire councils begin to implement their ambitious aims for a homelessness system that prevents, reduces and ends homelessness through permanent housing. Through our ongoing partnership work we are gaining evidence and insight into the breadth and depth of work that must be considered to ensure Housing-Led systemic change. We have developed our skills in system coaching which will allow us to improve our future approaches to in-depth working with local areas, and also gained evidence in order to inform our organisational work on Housing-Led approaches across the UK. 

Further Reading/ Resources

Our Housing-Led transition proposition (webpage)

Oxfordshire Housing Led Feasibility Study (resource)

Oxfordshire Councils press release (webpage)

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