A review of homelessness in the Great Yarmouth Borough Council area: lived experience

Survey of people with lived experience of homelessness

Great Yarmouth Borough Council have commissioned Neil Morland & Co Housing Consultants, to carry out a Homelessness Review, the findings from which will inform a new Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy for tackling homelessness in the local authority area. The new strategy shall be published in 2023.

You have been sent a link to this survey because it is important that the experiences of people that have been homeless, inform the objectives and actions of the new homelessness strategy. We value your feedback, please complete the survey, which will take no more than 5 minutes.

There are 12 questions in this survey, including a comments box for any additional information you wish to give. Please provide a response for each question. Some questions require you to tick multiple boxes, other questions require you to select one option from a list of multiple choices.

The survey is anonymous. You are able to exit the survey, by clicking on the 'Done" button and then return and edit later.

All responses should be submitted by 5pm on Friday 17th March 2023 If you have any queries or would like more information on this survey or the review please email liz@neilmorland.co.uk.

Thank you for your assistance.

Question Title

1. How would you describe your current experience of homelessness?

Statutory homeless – owed a duty by a local authority and staying in B&B Accommodation

Statutory homeless – owed a duty by a local authority and staying in council arranged temporary accommodation

Street homeless – sleeping rough

Hidden homeless – sofa surfing with friends, family or others

Living in own home but at risk of losing it

Now living in settled accommodation, but previously homeless in one of the above situations

Other (please specify)

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2. If you are currently homeless or threatened with homelessness, have you been homeless before this occasion, ie. is this a repeat occurrence homelessness?

Yes

Not applicable

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3. At what stage do you think it works best to prevent homelessness? (you can select more than one box)

Early on (up to two years before becoming homeless) – for example being given advice and help before leaving prison, care, armed forces, hospital, or to escape domestic abuse, or when having mental health problems, etc.

Immediately before a crisis (up to two months before becoming homeless) - for example being helped to stay in your current home or getting help to find somewhere else to live, when a landlord issues a notice of eviction, or parents are no longer willing or able to provide accommodation, or your relationship breaks down, etc.

After getting some accommodation, to stop a repeat occurrence of homelessness - for example being given advice and support to retain accommodation.

Other (please specify)

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4. Which of the following statements do you agree with (you can select more than one box)

I found it easy to access help and advice from Great Yarmouth Borough Council

Great Yarmouth Borough Council have made me aware of my rights and responsibilities under homelessness law and I know how to access free independent legal advice should I wish to

I feel ownership (both control and responsibility) of my Personal Housing Plan

Great Yarmouth Borough Council support me to meet the actions contained in my Personal Housing Plan

The temporary accommodation provided by Great Yarmouth Borough Council is of a decent standard that meets my needs

I feel confident about the prospect of moving on from temporary accommodation into my own home

Please add any comment you may have on any of the above statements

Question Title

5. When homeless or threatened with homelessness, what do you think is the best housing option?

Hostel accommodation

Private rented housing

Supported housing (including supported lodgings)

Family or friends

Social rented housing

Low cost home-ownership

Other (please specify)

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6. When you were homeless or at risk of homelessness, what is the most important thing you needed help and support with?

Living independently

Finding a house

Opportunities to socialise and find a job

Re-discovering talents and interests

Budgeting and debt management

Other (please specify)

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7. When threatened with homelessness, which of the following services is most important to you?

Preventing homelessness

More accommodation

Extra support

Other (please specify)

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8. What gender are you?

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9. What age are you?

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10. Who else normally lives with you?

Partner

Partner and dependent children

Dependent children

No-one

Other (please specify)

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11. Do you believe any of the following characteristics made it more difficult for you to access help? (Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics)

age

disability

gender reassignment

marriage and civil partnership

pregnancy and maternity

race

religion or belief

sexual orientation

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12. Thank you for completing this survey. If you wish to make any comments or provide any further information please do so in the box below, otherwise, please click on the 'Done' button below.