Event Details

Key Speakers

	Frances Walker, Head of Allocations, Department for Communities and Local Government
	Laura Shimili, Policy and Practice Advisor, Chartered Institute of Housing
	Deborah Garvie, Director of Policy, Shelter

Overview

With an increase in homelessness and overcrowding, providing homes for people on limited budgets in tough and uncertain economic times is of vital social importance. It also provides a springboard for tenants to strive for other opportunities in education and employment.

In November 2010, the Government announced a radical reform of the social housing system to provide local authorities, social landlords and social tenants a fairer and more flexible social housing system. These changes were introduced through what was then the Localism Bill.

On 29th June 2012 the UK Government issued new statutory guidance to local authorities in England about social housing allocation, accompanying the changes in the Localism Act 2011.

In a wider context, the Government has initiated a number of other schemes and programmes to help local organisations deliver high quality social homes, improve flexibility in social housing and protect the vulnerable.

This special symposium provides an invaluable opportunity for local authorities, local housing association teams, the private sector, voluntary and community organisations working in social housing and other key stakeholders to discuss the Government’s strategy for the future of social housing. The symposium will analyse the measures to make the social housing system fairer, more flexible, responsive and ultimately, how to utilise the approximate four million social homes in the most efficient manner possible for those vulnerable and most in need.

Delegates will:

• Discuss the new stautory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England
• Assess the ability of ‘Affordable Rent’ to be the main type of new housing supply
• Consider the tools available to social landlords, local authorities, the police and others in tackling anti-social behaviour and tenancy fraud
• Explore the Decent Homes Programme, Tenant Cashback Scheme and the Government’s Tenant Empowerment Programme
• Share ideas on other measures required to deliver high quality social homes, improve flexibility and protect the vulnerable

Programme

Who Should Attend?

• Local Authorities
• Local Housing Authorities
• Housing Associations
• Registered Social Landlords (RSLs)
• Housing Services Management Teams
• Housing Management Officers
• Housing Finance Professionals
• Tenancy Services Teams
• Tenancy Management Officers
• Sustainable Housing Project Managers
• Housing Needs Services
• Principal Officers – Health and Housing
• Support and Intervention Managers
• Strategic Planning and Commissioning Teams
• Commissioning Officers
• Income Officers
• Income Management Officers
• Voluntary and Community Organisations representing Tenants and Applicants
• Social Housing and Support Officers
• Housing Developers
• Development Managers
• Regeneration and Development teams
• Housing Trusts
• Benefits Officers
• Neighbourhood Advisors
• Neighbourhood Officers/Managers
• Leasehold and Shared Ownership Advisors
• Family Support Officers
• Community Development Teams
• Community Involvement Officers
• Community Engagement Officers
• Customer Involvement Managers
• Homesearch Advisors
• Health and Safety Officers
• The Police Service

“ Social housing is of enormous importance – for the millions who live in it now, and for the many more who look to social housing to provide the support they need to live safe, healthy and prosperous lives.

The Localism Act makes fundamental changes to the social housing system which will make the system fairer, striking a proper balance between the needs of new and existing tenants.

Currently, many are trapped by their housing – lacking incentives to work, and often unable to move even if they want to. Our reforms will enable councils and social landlords to make social housing a springboard to success.

But it’s important that councils and social landlords seize the opportunity which these changes offer to make the best use of this precious resource, so that more people benefit from a social home when they need it and for as long as they need it. This draft guidance points councils to the new and existing flexibilities within the allocation legislation which allow them to tailor local services to real local needs. ”
— Minister of State for Housing and Local Government, January 2012