Staying In conference workshops

One-day conference to prevent evictions and abandonment from hostels and supported housing providers.

Workshop descriptions

Morning workshops: sharing the journey

The morning workshops were led by 5 agencies that are piloting different approaches to reducing evictions and abandonment from their service as part of a Homeless Link project. The pilots shared their journey; sharing good practice ideas, solutions to problems they have faced as well as sharing ideas that have been less successful. They are also learning about what works and so posed questions to the audience to encourage discussion and improve the understanding and knowledge of all participants.

A: How to reduce evictions for young people with multiple needs

• what has worked so far
• what has been less successful
• what lessons have been learnt
• an alternative sanctions procedure that is being developed in response to clients’ behaviour to help prevent evictions by preventing rules from being breached
• how you can work to reduce arrears amongst young people as a means to reduce evictions.

B: How to reduce evictions caused by arrears

• what has worked so far
• what has been less successful
• what lessons have been learnt
• how staff have been trained to improve their understanding of the benefit system
• how arrears are managed
• how to prevent arrears from occurring.

C: How to reduce the level of abandonment

• what has worked so far
• what has been less successful
• what lessons have been learnt
• changes that can be made to a service that can have an impact on the level of abandonment
• how to involve clients within the service to reduce abandonment
• how to changed the culture of your service and train staff and the impact this can have on the levels of abandonment.

D: Local area response to evictions and abandonment

• what has worked so far
• what has been less successful
• what lessons have been learnt
• local area approach to prevent evictions and to support those at risk of eviction
• how multiple agencies can work together to support individuals with anti-social behaviour issues to prevent them from being evicted or from abandoning.

E: Local authorities: learning from each other to reduce evictions and abandonment

• what has worked so far
• what has been less successful
• what lessons have been learnt
• details of a borough wide protocol that can help prevent evictions and support vulnerable clients
• how you share learning between hostels.

Afternoon workshops: good practice models

The afternoon workshops were run by agencies that have establised policies around reducing evictions and abandonment by clients from their service. They shared their good practice ideas, and looked at what has been succcessful and what hasnt worked as well.

A: Working with rent arrears to reduce eviction and abandonment

• a look at how you can amend your rent arrears policy to reduce evictions and abandonment
• the impact these changes can have on your service.

B: Informal case management approach: a good practice model

• a look at an example informal case management approach that can be used to help prevent evictions and abandonment
• the impact this approach can have on a service.

C: Motivating and supporting staff to work with challenging behaviour **WORKSHOP FULLY BOOKED**

• a look at how you can support staff to work with clients with challenging behaviour
• the impact this approach can have on the levels of evictions and abandonment from a service
• the impact this approach can have on your staff culture.

D: How commissioners can help reduce evictions and abandonment

• a look at the role that commissioners can play in reducing evictions and abandonment from services they commission
• an overview of how commissioners can work with and support services to achieve reduced levels of evictions and abandonments
• the impact that involveving commissioners can have on the services and on the levels of evictions and abandonment.

E: How to work with entrenched rough sleepers to reduce abandonment

• a look at how you can work with rough sleepers to reduce abandonment
• an overview of how you can tailor services to suit the individual needs of each rough sleeper
• a look at the impact this personalised approach can have on the levels of abandonment.