Temporary Accommodation Services for Homeless Clients

To support the City Corporation's statutory homelessness responsibilities, and in response to the Government's Covid 19 strategy, the City has engaged a number of providers of short term supported housing and temporary accommodation in the recent past.

A number of those arrangements used a procurement exemption code contained in the City Corporation's Competitive Procurement Exemption Policy for Sheltered Accommodation and Residential Services which does not extend to accommodation and services for homelessness and the contract for one provider expires on 31 March 2022. A procurement exercise must be carried out to source future supported accommodation and temporary housing. This report seeks approval of four non-compliant waivers to direct award contracts to secure the accommodation and support elements to ensure the City Corporation can meet its responsibilities and obligations to this client group whilst that procurement exercise is completed. The waivers will prevent a break in provision and avoid a risk a return to rough sleeping for those currently accommodated and those who may present themselves as homeless in the future whilst the procurement exercise is underway.