Tackling Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Digital Conference

Wednesday 20th January 2021

Digital Live Broadcast,

Key Points
  • Hear best practice from around the world of successful interventions to tackle homelessness and how we might apply lessons learnt in the UK
  • Progress delivering the Next Steps Strategy from the Rough Sleeping Taskforce
  • Local best practice in resettling temporarily accommodated rough sleepers
  • How local areas are implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act; early intervention, prevention and supporting those newly at risk of eviction and homelessness
  • Delivering Housing First in England with an international comparison to the pioneers in Finland
  • Addressing the health and social needs of homeless people in a safe way during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with a spotlight on improving access to specialist substance misuse services
  • Improving use of data and evidence to inform the policies and interventions you apply to tackle homelessness
  • Click Here to Secure your Place
Overview
Expert Speakers Include:

  • John Isserlis, Senior Rough Sleeping Advisor, MHCLG
  • Polly Neate CBE, Chief Executive, Shelter
  • Lydia Stazen, Director, Institute of Global Homelessness
  • Juha Kaakinen, CEO, Y-Foundation
  • Molly Bishop, Strategic Lead - Homelessness, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • Neil Munslow, Service Manager, Active Inclusion, Newcastle City Council
  • Alex Smith, Project Manager - Housing First England, Homeless Link
  • Oliver Standing, Director, Collective Voice
  • Ian Swift, Group Services Manager, Housing Solutions, Southwark Council
  • Dr Ligia Teixeira, Chief Executive, Centre for Homelessness Impact
  • Cllr Sharon Thompson, Cabinet Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods, Birmingham City Council


The coronavirus pandemic demonstrated what can be achieved in an emergency situation to end rough sleeping and support those that are homeless, with thousands of rough sleepers being rapidly moved into temporary accommodation, evictions being suspended and the welfare state stepping up to provide a safety net for those in need.

Westminster Insight’s Tackling Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Digital Conference explores how we can keep the momentum after the lock-down has been lifted, build on progress made post Covid-19 and ensure no-one who is now indoors needs to go back to sleeping rough.

With committed Government funding brought forward, local authorities, housing, health and voluntary sector homelessness services now face a huge challenge in turning their short-term emergency solutions into long-term strategies. Temporarily accommodated rough sleepers will need resettling and with the full economic impact of the lock-down yet to be realised, it is predicted that many others will soon be at risk of eviction and homelessness for the first time.

With the event being live streamed you will also benefit by hearing directly from international speakers from the Institute of Global Homelessness in the USA who will draw connections between successful global homelessness interventions and how we can best apply them to our local context in the UK. Plus listen to a discussion between the pioneers of Housing First in Finland where homelessness has rapidly decreased since its implementation, and our Housing First leaders in the UK about how we can accelerate the programme’s progress in Britain.
Agenda
Start

09:00 - 09:10
Chair’s Opening Remarks

 
Speakers

Polly Neate CBE CEO, Shelter

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09:10 - 09:40
Keynote Address - Applying Lessons from Global Homelessness Solutions

 
  • Countries and cities across the world that have seen steep reductions in homelessness, and those that have ended it outright 
  • Key success factors including; the right mix of program interventions, well-coordinated local systems, and effective policy
  • What global lessons can we apply to the UK homelessness context
9.30 - 9.40 Questions and Discussion 
Speakers

Lydia Stazen Executive Director Institute of Global Homelessness

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09:40 - 10:10
Ending Rough Sleeping: Progress on the Next Steps Strategy

 
  • Funding and accelerating plans for new services to support rough sleepers into long-term, safe accommodation 
  • Progress on delivering 6,000 new housing units
  • Helping local authorities implement a range of support interventions to unlock new opportunities to improve lives for the better
  • Best practice from across local authorities
10.00 - 10.10 Questions and Discussion

10:10 - 10:40
Panel Discussion - Best Practice on Tackling Rough Sleeping

 
  • Local authority initiatives and sharing best practice to end rough sleeping
  • Commissioning services and developing effective multi-agency partnerships
10.30 - 10.40 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

John Isserlis Senior Rough Sleeping Advisor, MHCLG

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Molly Bishop Strategic Lead - Homelessness, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

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Cllr Sharon Thompson Cabinet Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods, Birmingham City Council

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10:40 - 10:50
Intermission

 

10:50 - 11:20
Panel Discussion - Implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act

 
  • Progress in delivering HRA
  • Adapting services and processes to prevent people becoming homeless because of the pandemic
  • Lessons and outcomes from trailblazers
  • What is working well and measuring the impact of the Act
11.10 - 11.20 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Ian Swift Group Services Manager, Housing Solutions, Southwark Council

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Neil Munslow Service Manager, Active Inclusion, Newcastle City Council

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11:20 - 11:50
Supporting Those with Multiple Needs – Drugs and Alcohol

 
  • How can the momentum from Covid-19 and ‘everybody in’ be kept up?
  • The current policy, political and systems context for the delivery of drug and alcohol support
11.40 - 11.50 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Oliver Standing Director, Collective Voice

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11:50 - 12:20
Panel Discussion: Housing First Update and Continuity Throughout the Covid-19 Crisis

 
  • Housing First – The success story from Finland, responding to the pandemic and next steps
  • Understanding the principles required for commissioning, designing and delivering a Housing First service in England
  • Providing effective support to your residents in a safe way during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic
  • Case studies of successful projects
12.10 - 12.20 Questions and Discussion
Speakers

Alex Smith Project Manager - Housing First England, Homeless Link

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Juha Kaakinen CEO, Y-Foundation

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12:20 - 12:50
Using Evidence and Data to Inform Homelessness Interventions

 
  • How to evidence impact and cost effectiveness for specific interventions
  • Fostering a learning culture to aid policymakers, practitioners and commissioners 
  • Case studies of best practice in applying evidence to improve outcomes both globally and in the UK
12.40 - 12.50 Questions and Discussion

Speakers

Dr Ligia Teixeira Chief Executive, Centre for Homelessness Impact

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12:50 - 13:00
Chair’s Closing Remarks and Close of Forum

 
Speakers

Polly Neate CBE CEO, Shelter

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End
Speakers

Molly Bishop Strategic Lead - Homelessness, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Read profile

John Isserlis Senior Rough Sleeping Advisor, MHCLG

Read profile

Juha Kaakinen CEO, Y-Foundation

Read profile

Neil Munslow Service Manager, Active Inclusion, Newcastle City Council

Read profile

Polly Neate CBE CEO, Shelter

Read profile

Alex Smith Project Manager - Housing First England, Homeless Link

Read profile

Oliver Standing Director, Collective Voice

Read profile

Lydia Stazen Executive Director Institute of Global Homelessness

Read profile

Ian Swift Group Services Manager, Housing Solutions, Southwark Council

Read profile

Dr Ligia Teixeira Chief Executive, Centre for Homelessness Impact

Read profile

Cllr Sharon Thompson Cabinet Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods, Birmingham City Council

Read profile

Venue details

Digital Live Broadcast

Speakers
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