Agenda item

This report in conjunction with a presentation, sets out how Beam uses community-powered crowdfunding and technology, to empower and support residents impacted by homelessness into employment and their own rented homes.

Councillor Lisa Homan, Cabinet Member for Housing, made some opening remarks. Given the significant challenges posed by homelessness and unemployment, she confirmed the borough sought to utilise innovative ideas to support its statutory services and help residents through challenging times. Beam had been extremely successful, and she commended its work to the Committee.

Kamal Montalib - (Head of Economic Development), confirmed Beam was a ground-breaking initiative and the Authority was the first council in the country to work with Beam from April 2019. Kamal provided an overview of the current economic climate in the borough (to provide the context in which Beam was operating), before asking Chloe Moore from Beam to provide her presentation.

Chloe Moore provided a presentation on what Beam did, as well evidencing its success through a series of case studies. The following key points were noted:

·       Beam is a service for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

·       A summary of the process was provided:

1.    Client referral to Beam by the Council or charity partners.

2.    Caseworker assigned to each client.

3.    Beam crowdfunds all the resources needed to assist the client begin their new career.

4.    Each client is assisted to find stable work with in-work support provided for 6 months after entering employment.

·     Beam’s assistance cuts across users with multiple support needs.

·     Partnership with Council begins in April 2019, January 2020 - £100K was donated (crowd funded) to fund training and work, July 2020 – Beam add Housing support to its service

·     January 2021 – H&F submit external bid for Beam to support another 250+ residents over 3 years.

·     Currently: 87 residents funding with Beam, £245,861 donated from public, 37 clients have entered work, 33 clients moved on / prevented from homelessness.

·     Jobs provided by a diverse range of organisations including: NHS, Ocado, Football Clubs and Thames Water.

·     Money Beam saves the Council: £10,300 costs saved per person who leaves homelessness, £6,500 costs saved per person who is prevented from becoming homeless, £1,600 increase in council tax paid per person starting work.

The Chair thanked Chloe Moore for her presentation and invited Councillor Sue Fennimore to address the Committee. Councillor Sue Fennimore confirmed that Beam worked and was about helping people to help themselves. The Committee learnt that the referral pathway had been an extremely useful mechanism to assist residents in numerous ways, to achieve sustainable employment and housing. Moving forwards, Councillor Sue Fennimore explained the Council would assist Beam where possible.

Councillor Helen Rowbottom asked if the social networking aspect of Beam’s work was captured in its operating model. In response, Chloe Moore explained that with Beam’s health foundation bid recently submitted, Beam hoped to do more direct tracking of well-being outcomes on the project in the future. Beam’s own platform also currently allowed clients to view and interact with persons which had donated to their specific crowdfunding page.

The Chair commented that Beams’ approach was very person-centric and clearly assisted clients to weigh up and assess their possible options to increase the likelihood of success. Councillor Rory Vaughan asked about the criteria which needed to be met for a referral to Beam, as well as how this worked, including the tracking element after 6 months had elapsed. In response, Chloe Moore explained that clients were often at very different stages of homelessness before they were referred  by Council Housing officers to Beam. The main eligibility criteria was that the client was work ready, based on an honesty policy with the caseworker. In relation to tracking, Chloe Moore confirmed that milestone data was recorded at 13 weeks, and, if a client had sustained work for this duration, most clients (75%) remained employed. If the job was lost within 6 months, the client was able to refer themselves back to Beam for further support. Kamal Montalib confirmed that the relationship was starting to evolve, and the Council was starting to look at the life-long learning journeys of individual clients. Kamal reiterated that good employment and housing outcomes had a beneficial impact on

other areas for the council such as public heath, adult social care and the cost benefits were evidential with these types of projects.

The Chair confirmed the Committee were very encouraged by the progress which had been made and asked that the topic be revisited in the future. As a final remark, Councillor Lisa Homan, Cabinet member for Housing asked the attendees to spread the word about Beam and encouraged committee members to help make Beam bigger and better than it was, so more residents could be helped.

RESOLVED

That the Committee note and comment on the report.