Title of Project / Service / Policy

East Sussex Housing Partnership Strategy

Team

Local Housing Authorities and Public Health

Department 

Local Housing Authorities and Public Health

Provide a comprehensive description of your project (or service/policy, etc.) including its purpose and scope

The East Sussex Housing Partnership is a multi-agency network, lead by the 5 local housing authorities. The partnership includes local housing providers, professional bodies from the housing sector, and partners from across health, social care, criminal justice and the voluntary and community sector. The aims of the partnership are to:

• Set out a clear plan for housing in East Sussex for the next five years.
• Help different organisations work together on shared goals and challenges.
• Continue strengthening cross sector collaboration during devolution and local government re-organisation.
• Be a collective voice for housing needs in East Sussex at local and national levels.
• Support joint projects and funding bids.
• Make the best use of skills and resources and developing capacity in the housing workforce.
• Make sure short-term projects fit into a bigger, long-term vision.
• Ensure new legislation and policy is followed consistently.

The partnership have been developing a place-based housing strategy, which will sit alongside and complement the individual strategies in each of the housing authorities. The strategy includes the following priorities:

·         Preventing homelessness and ending rough sleeping

·         Work together to reduce health inequalities

·         Improving housing management and standards

·         Deliver the Homes We Need

·         Tackling Climate Change

·         Private rented housing

The strategy priorities are supported by the cross-cutting themes of collaboration, evidence based decision making and workforce.

Once the strategy has been adopted, the partnership will develop an implementation plan of key areas of work for the coming year.

What actions did you plan last time?

(List them from the previous EqIA)

What improved as a result?

What outcomes have these actions achieved?

What further actions do you need to take? (add these to the Action Plan below)

Not applicable

Age - people of all ages are protected under the Equality Act.

Consider: older adults, under 5s, transition-aged young people (16-24), working age adults etc.

(Age)

What do you know?

Summary of recent data, census information, research and insight about people who access your services and/or staff

East Sussex has a higher proportion of older people, compared to Rother and the rest of the South East. Rother has the highest rate of people over the age of 85 in the country. In 2022, people aged 65 and over made up 26% of the East Sussex population and 3.9% of people in county were aged 85 and over; higher than nationally (2.5%), and the South East (2.8%).

The age profile of the East Sussex population in 2024 is set out below, alongside the position for the South East and England.

The project population changes below are set out below:

The table above shows that 84% of population growth is expected to be in people aged 65 or over. The number of people aged 0 -17 will remain largely unchanged and there will be a small increase in the number of people aged 18-64.

The age profile of the number of people using homelessness services locally is set out below:

It should be noted that returns for Eastbourne and Lewes Councils were not available for 2022/23.

The homelessness data illustrates that the most significant homelessness pressures are amongst working age people aged between 25 and 54.

The number of children living in temporary accommodation has increased over recent years. There are currently 1,394 children living in temporary accommodation, compared to 1,350 at the same point in the previous year.

The number of referrals for services for young people to local housing services are set out below:

(Age)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback from people who access your service and/or staff feedback

·         Responses to the online survey commented on the range of accommodation options for older people locally:

“New social housing should include a wide variety of homes on the same site so that people can be moved to more suitable accommodation as their needs change, without having to relocate to a new neighbourhood.  At present, older people living alone are still living in 3-bedroomed houses more suitable for a family, while growing families are squeezing into small flats.”

“More bungalows would be welcomed by older people.  'The Cedars' in Hailsham is an excellent example of a housing community for older people.”

“Need for sheltered accommodation is my priority.”

“Empty shops could be turned into accommodation for the homeless and/or day centres for the elderly, also for young people during school holidays.”

“Stop building high rise buildings for the old and disabled. The people I know who are frequently stuck in a tower block when lifts break etc is just horrible. I worked a long time and now can’t due to disability but why should someone like me end up stuck in a tower block. Small terrace style single story housing would be brilliant. Limited to the elderly and disabled.”

“Priority should be given to pensioners with medical needs especially given Section 21 notices. To wait until the Bailiff notices is too stressful. More help with the move is necessary.”

·         Significant concern about the long-term impacts of high numbers of children living in temporary accommodation, particularly for worsening health inequalities and access to education. It was highlighted that some parents might not feel comfortable letting their children’s school know if they are living in temporary accommodation and therefore miss out on support.

·         People of all ages highlighted a concern about a lack of affordable housing options in East Sussex and there was support for increasing the number of affordable rented homes.

·         There was support for increasing the supply of smaller options (studio, 1 bed and 2 bed units) to provide options for older people to downsize as they get older and also starter homes for younger people.

·         It was highlighted that more needs to be done to raised awareness of changes in housing availability and cost, compared to previous generations.

·         More information about housing should be shared in schools, so people have realistic expectations and to help break down the stigma around homelessness.

·         There needs to be stronger joint working between housing and children’s services to support families who have been found or are likely to be found intentionally homeless. Ideally this should be early intervention to prevent them becoming homeless.

·         Feedback from the Hastings Ageing Network meeting highlighted the need for closer working between housing partners on estate management and addressing anti-social behaviour.

·         Concerns about older people living in the private rented sector becoming at greater risk of homelessness if their housing becomes unaffordable on a fixed income.

“Pensioners are usually on a fixed income and current rents for a one bed flat are more than their income.”

(Age)

What does this mean^[4]?

Impacts identified from data and feedback (actual and potential)

·   All age groups highlighted a significant challenge of a lack of affordable housing options.

·   The number of children and young people living in temporary accommodation is high. This increases the risk of health inequalities and could disrupt access to education.

·   East Sussex is expecting to see an ageing population over the life of the strategy. Good quality, affordable housing is an important enabler for people to live healthy independent lives for as long as possible.

·   Concerns that the number of older people at risk of homelessness in the private rented sector may increase, as fixed incomes will not keep pace with rising rents.

·   There is a need to increase the range of accommodation options for older people, including accessible housing and accommodation with support.

(Age)

What can you do?

All potential actions to remove or reduce barriers and increase equality.

·   Maximise grant funding and investment in delivery of new affordable housing, including exploring grant funding opportunities to provide self-contained accommodation for families.

·   Develop a county-wide temporary accommodation policy, setting out standards and access to services to help reduce the risk of worsening health inequalities.

·   Continue a shared role between housing and children’s services to improve access to housing for young people and care leavers.

·   Expand co-location opportunities between housing, children’s services and adult social care, including links to family hubs.

·   Launch a homelessness prevention project with local schools, to help raise awareness of local housing conditions and reduce the stigma of homelessness.

·   Ensure the needs of both young and older people are reflected in the new supported housing strategy.

·   Lead the implementation of the suitable home priority within the adult social care strategy and housing priorities within the new Adult Social Care prevention strategy. Strengthen links between housing and the new older person’s commissioning team in housing.

·   Support the development of Age Friendly communities in East Sussex.

·   Ensure both youth organisations and support services for older people are engaged in the East Sussex Homelessness Forum.

Disability - A person is disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Consider: sensory and mobility impairments; fluctuating, recurring or developmental conditions; learning difficulties; mental health; and people with cancer, multiple sclerosis or HIV. Neurodivergence and effects of menopause can also apply.

(Disability)

What do you know?

Summary of data

In the 2021 census, 20.3% of East Sussex residents were living with a long-term physical or mental health condition or impairment that affected their ability to carry out day-to-day activities in 2021, the same proportion as in 2011 (compares to 18% for England & Wales). 34.8% of households in East Sussex had at least one member identifying as disabled under the Equality Act in 2021.

Substance Misuse East Sussex is home to an estimated 2,300 people who use opiates and/or crack. Of these, 53.3% were in treatment at some point in 2021/22 which is above the national average of 46.3%. but it does indicate a possible further 1,050 people using opiates or crack who are not accessing treatment.

In March 2025, Public Health published a Multiple Compound Needs (MCN) Assessment. MCN means people living with at least 3 support needs, including homelessness, poor mental health, substance dependency, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system. The MCN Assessment drew on data from the Rough Sleeping Initiative (now the Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Programme and the Changing Futures programme. The assessment found that the number of people living with multiple compound needs in East Sussex was 1,360 between 2022 and 2023.

The needs assessment included the following overview of support needs:

The following referrals were made under the duty to refer:

(Disability)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·         A number of responses to the online survey highlighted the links between homelessness and broader support needs, particularly mental health and substance dependency support needs:

“Homelessness is not always about unaffordable housing. I work in homeless hostels. Mostly they have chronic mental health disease and drug and alcohol addiction.”

“I think additional help with alcohol and drug use/dependency also needs to be addressed as goes hand in hand with the same issue.”

“I work with lots of people who are at risk of becoming homeless or are in temporary accommodation or in very unsuitable accommodation due to disability and illness”

“I feel far more should be done for people with addictions. I am sure that the majority of homeless persons have either addictions or mental illness.”

“Look at why people continue to sleep rough and whether allowances for alcohol increase the problem.”

“People coming out of prison and rehabs should be followed up more and given more support (I speak from experience)”

“There needs to be more rehab places.”

·         Responses to the survey also highlighted the need for partnership working:

“I agree with this, but I would like to add that the Adult Social Care need to work closely with the council to prevent and reduce homelessness. Those that are under ASC need protection and support too.”

“As stated above, having central points of contact, such as a hostel or health hubs with multi-agency/ multi-disciplinary teams would be able to provide wraparound coordination and better outcomes, again being more cost effective.”

“Additional focus needed on the integration or interface of housing needs and social (care) needs. Not simply more paid carers but how do you build neighbourhood systems that support people leaving hospital or with mental health issues e.g. a buddy system.”

·         Other responses spoke about the range of housing, housing conditions, accessible housing and funding:

“I feel it would be appropriate for more housing to be allocated for people with special needs and their support workers, to live integrated people who don’t have special needs. This has to be the way forward in the 21st century, to get people out of residential care homes and into the community, with support. The amount of money that is spent by local authorities housing people with different needs in residential care homes is astronomical, I feel it would be more cost-effective.”

“I fully agree with more supported housing. I am under ASC in supported accommodation and I am looking to moving onto the next stage of my life with supported housing in my own flat or similar with PAs. I have accessibility needs too, while I am not in a wheelchair I struggle with too many stairs and some adaptations will be needed for me. So I think it's very important to consider people like me who are young and vulnerable too.

“More accessible homes should be built and only given to those in need. More bungalows instead of flats too small for wheelchairs. Only register disabled should be offered these homes.”

“Help people adapt their housing so they can stay at home”

“As a disabled tenant myself I don't think enough is done to improve our homes.”

“I would like to see more help for people with disabilities and health and care needs who live in flats. I am a family carer for someone who is registered disabled and lives on the ground floor of a block of flats in East Sussex.”

“DFGs (Disabled Facilities Grants) are really important. Lots of people are living in unsuitable housing because of disability/illness, are on Band A but can wait for up to 5 years for suitable alternative accommodation. This needs to be urgently addressed.”

“Disabled facility grants should only be used if the size of the property matches the number of bedrooms”

“Grants to adapt people's homes to help live independently is to be commended. Often there is a situation where someone does not want to go into care and would prefer to live independently for as long as possible.”

·         Responses to the survey highlighted the need for support to people leaving hospital:

“It is of vital importance that the care needs of people leaving hospital are dealt with swiftly.”

“Need help for elderly/ disabled when they leave hospital.”

“Much closer links between healthcare and social care so people are not stuck in hospital. Ideally this would be one integrated service.”

“There needs to be more supported accommodation for those with additional needs run by professionals. There should also be care packages and intermediate care for those coming out of hospital. Older people need more sheltered housing options with a 24 hr warden.”

“There needs to be much more help for those who have unfortunately found themselves moving from non-disabled to disabled due to a health impact. People need help moving back into their home or new accommodation.”

·         Responses to the online survey regarding the priority for working together to reduce health inequalities highlighted the need for staff capacity to support people with multiple compound needs.

“Yes, good - need to genuinely have enough staff time to casework vulnerable people needing support”

“…you will need to employ a lot more staff.”

Feedback was gathered from people using and delivering services during the multiple compound needs assessment. Key feedback about links to homelessness included:

“I think the presenting need could fluctuate at different times as well, you know, as to what's most pressing, we certainly see that whilst people are in temporary accommodation, you know, they might have - mental health - might be the cause of their homelessness, but that might, you know, stabilise once they're in accommodation. But then you know, drug use might go up- or vice versa… Once you're in accommodation, the drinking or drug use goes down because it was a way of coping living on the street, but then the mental health then goes up, so the support from substance misuse services needs to back down but not disappear completely”

[Re: Warming up the Homeless] “It's a nicer place and you know a friendlier place for people to come into than, say, the council offices which, you know, serve a purpose, but you know it's not the same as, you know, somewhere you get a cup of tea and something to eat and more relaxed space, so a lot of the, um, engagement work has taken place in there, and that's been successful.”

“If the government, for example, wants us to end rough sleeping, they really need to think about the legislation in and of itself because we feel the legislation rationalises homelessness rather than trying to actually reduce it altogether. So we're kind of at conflicting priorities where in the RSI we're trying to house everyone, whereas in in the local authority, it's only certain types of people.”

·         Concerns about people from outside of the area placed in temporary accommodation in East Sussex without appropriate ongoing support.

(Disability)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   People living with a disability may be at a higher risk of homelessness and have fewer accommodation options.

·   The number of people living with MCN (at least 3 support needs linked to homelessness, poor mental health, substance dependency, domestic abuse and contact with the criminal justice system) is higher than previously estimated. The MCN Assessment highlights that it would not be possible to meet this need through grant funded activity alone and it is important to improve links between specialist services and mainstream provision.

·   There is a shortage of accessible accommodation options in East Sussex.

·   Disabled Facilities Grants are particularly important to helping people adapt their homes and continue living independently.

·   Collaboration and integration across housing, health and care services should be a priority to stop people missing out on support.

(Disability)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         Develop a new hospital discharge protocol with partners across housing, health and care.

·         Reviewing existing protocols and working practices between housing, health and care, including the Duty to Refer, to include a focus on preventing homelessness.

·         Implement the recommendations from the recent Multiple Compound Needs Assessment carried out by Public Health. This includes expanding multi-disciplinary teams and strengthening links to substance dependency and mental health services.

·         Ensuring substance dependency and mental health support are part of the ongoing multi-disciplinary team supporting rough sleepers when new funding allocations are announced at the end of 2025.

·         Continue to facilitate collaboration across housing and occupational therapy teams to make the best use of Disabled Facilities Grants.

·         New Supported Accommodation Strategy to be developed during 2026, with a string focus on engaging with existing and potential residents to understand good practice and gaps in provision.

·         Continue to lead the implementation of the suitable home priority within the adult social care strategy, with a focus on increasing the range of accommodation options for people living with disabilities in East Sussex.

Gender reassignment - In the Act a transgender person is someone who proposes to, starts or has completed a process to change his or her gender. A person does not need to be under medical supervision to be protected

(Gender reassignment)

What do you know?

Summary of data

The 2021 East Sussex Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans Queer + (LGBTQ+)[1] Comprehensive Needs Assessment estimates that there may be 5,572 Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) people (1% of the population) living in East Sussex.

2021 Census: 1640 residents declared their gender identity was different to that assigned at birth which is 0.4% of the population.

Stonewall research amongst health and social workers in 2015 found that Trans people were subject to discrimination, with negative remarks or offensive language being heard by 20% of patient-facing staff from their colleagues. This means that trans people may be reluctant to engage with services.

(Gender reassignment)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

There were no specific comments about this protected characteristic to the online survey during the public engagement.

During the public engagement period, housing colleagues met with Stonewall Housing, a national charity supporting LGBTQ+ people of all ages who live in the UK and are experiencing homelessness or living in an unsafe environment. Stonewater Housing have recently opened a supported accommodation provision in East Sussex. Stonewater Housing also invite housing providers to sign up to their LGBTQ+ housing pledge, which demonstrates a commitment to LGBTQ+ support and equality.

(Gender reassignment)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

National evidence suggests that LGBTQ+ people are at higher risk of homelessness and may face stigma when accessing services.

(Gender reassignment)

What can you do?

·   All potential actions

·   To continue to work with Stonewall Housing, and other local charities on the delivery of specialist to supported accommodation and to ensure these needs are reflected in the evidence based for new supported housing strategies.

·   To promote the LGBTQ+ pledge to local housing providers.

·   To work with the Safer East Sussex team on the mobilisation of specialist LGBTQ+ refuge provision.

·   To ensure the voice of LGBTQ+ residents is included in ongoing work to strengthen tenant involvement.

Pregnancy and maternity - Protection is during pregnancy and any statutory maternity leave.

(Pregnancy & maternity)

What do you know?

Summary of data

There are just under 5,000 births per year in East Sussex. Hastings has the highest overall birth rate as well as for women aged 15-19 years. Lewes and then Rother have the highest birth rates for women aged 35-44 years.

The number of households owed a main housing duty, that included a pregnant woman for each year are set out below:

(Pregnancy & maternity) What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

There were no specific comments about this protected characteristic to the online survey during the public engagement.

(Pregnancy & maternity) What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   The number of families with children experience homelessness across East Sussex is high, including a rising number of children living in temporary accommodation.

·   Pregnancy and maternity may put someone at risk of homelessness if their property becomes overcrowded or is no longer suitable for their needs.

(Pregnancy & maternity) What can you do?

All potential actions

·   Ensure maternity services are included in ongoing work to develop new working practices with health partners, to help identify people who may be at risk of homelessness earlier.

·   To update protocols and working practices with children’s services to help identify families who may be at risk of homelessness earlier.

Race (ethnicity) - This includes ethnic or national origins, colour or nationality, and includes refugees and migrants^[5], and Gypsies and Travellers.

(Race / ethnicity)

What do you know?

Summary of data

8.0% of the adult population in East Sussex is from an ethnic minority group (including White minority groups). This compares to 18.8% in England. In 2021, 93.9% (512,440) of usual residents in East Sussex identified their ethnic group within the high-level "White" category, a decrease from 96.0% (505,420) in the 2011 Census, but still significantly higher than the English national average (81.0%) and also higher than the average for the Southeast region (86.6%). 4.6% were of another white background; 1.6% were Asian/ Asian British, 0.5% were Black/ Black British and1.3. % were from other ethnic backgrounds. Those selecting a non -UK identity only accounted for 5.5% of the overall population (29,880 people), which is an increase from 4.3% of the population (23,090 people) in 2011.

In terms of the national picture of homelessness, a higher proportion of people identified as homeless in Census 2021 identified within the "Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean or African" (15.0%), "Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups" (5.1%), or "Other ethnic group" (6.1%) high - level categories, when compared with the rest of the population of England and Wales (4.0%, 2.9%, and 2.1%, respectively).

The ethnicity of people using homelessness services in East Sussex is set out below:

The MCN Assessment carried out by Public Health found that 91% of people living with MCN in East Sussex were white.

National evidence highlights that people from minority ethic groups may face additional barriers when accessing housing and homelessness services.

National evidence suggests that households from minority ethnic groups are more likely to live in multi-generational households and therefore require larger properties.

The number of former asylum seekers owed a homelessness prevention or relief duty is set out below:

Planning policy teams across the local authorities are working together closely to find  thsuitable placements on pitch sites where required. A call for potential sites was published over summer 2025 and the outcomes will be considered as part of the local plan making-process.

To note the 2022 briefing produced by Friends, Families & Travellers, Accommodation issues facing Gypsies and Travellers in England. This highlights a national problem with many local authorities failing to meet the needs of this group. The briefing recommends that local (and national) government should switch from an enforcement approach to encampments to an approach of provision, including permanent and transit sites and the promotion and adoption of negotiated stopping agreements. It also calls for the Government to reintroduce pitch targets and a statutory duty onto local authorities to meet the assessed need for Gypsy and Traveller sites, adopt a definition of a Traveller in planning terms that incorporates all Gypsies and Travellers who need a pitch to live on, and introduce a rolling programme of ring-fenced funding for local authorities to build Gypsy and Traveller sites.

(Race / ethnicity)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·   Significant response to the online engagement suggesting that migration is having an impact on pressure on local housing services and housing availability.

“The whole housing/homelessness problem has one root cause: net migration - whether it be legal or illegal.”

“Immigrants have been given far too much priority accommodating them with dwellings that should be allocated to our own people, this cannot be right and since you mention fairness perhaps you will remember this.”

“Integration doesn't work so stop giving housing to illegal immigrants”

“Stop housing illegal, economic migrants.”

However, this is not reflected in the monitoring data from local homelessness services. There is no priority treatment to people from ethnically minoritised backgrounds or those who are migrants.

(Race / ethnicity)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   East Sussex has a strong history of partnership working to deliver services for refugees, including the Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme.

(Race / ethnicity)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   Continue to support the call for gypsy and traveller sites as part of the local plan making process in each district and borough authority.

·   To develop a community-centred approach, working with partners to identify people at risk of homelessness earlier. To continue to support cross-sector working through the East Sussex Homelessness Forum and ensure the membership of the forum includes organisations supporting people from minority ethnic groups.

·   To work with the local migration partners and East Sussex Strategic Migration Partnership to support the co-ordination of local projects and services.

·   To support the implementation of recommendations from the Rapid Health Needs Assessment for Children and Adolescent Refugees and Asylum Seekers in East Sussex East Sussex in Figures – Data Observatory – JSNA – JSNA: Rapid Health Needs Assessment for Children and Adolescent Refugee and Asylum seekers in East Sussex 2024

Religion or belief - Religion includes any religion with a clear structure and belief system. Belief means any religious or philosophical belief. The Act also covers lack of religion or belief.

(Religion /& Belief)

What do you know?

Summary of data

In 2021, 45.9% (250,330) of usual residents of East Sussex identified as Christian, down from 59.9% (315,650) in 2011. The second most common religion in East Sussex after Christianity is Islam. The proportion of the population stating they were Muslim increased from 0.8% of the usual resident population (4,200) in 2011 to 1.1% (6,190) in 2021. This is low compared to both the Southeast Regional and the English national averages, with 3.3% of residents in the South East specified their religion as Islam, and 6.7% across the whole of England. People in East Sussex with the highest proportion of people with no religious belief is Hastings (37%), and Lewes (32.5%) also having a notably higher proportion of people with no religion than the national average.

Some faith groups may require specific housing arrangements, such as communal living environments or designs that reflect particular architectural or spiritual traditions. Cultural customs within religious communities can also shape expectations around household composition, privacy, and proximity to places of worship. Additionally, factors such as age, family size, and socioeconomic status within faith groups play a role in determining housing needs.

Religion and belief is not reported as part of the statutory homelessness returns.

(Religion /& Belief)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

There were no specific comments about this protected characteristic to the online survey during the public engagement.

(Religion /& Belief)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   Local faith-based organisations play a significant role in delivering local homelessness services, for example providing drop-in hubs and temporary accommodation for people who are rough sleeping.

(Religion /& Belief)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   Continue to support cross-sector collaboration through the East Sussex Homelessness Forum and ensure the membership of the forum is kept up to date to include local faith-based organisations.

·   Use established partnership networks to ensure the experience and insights from services delivered by faith-based organisations support the development of services for rough sleepers.

Sex - Women and men are protected under the Act.

(Sex)

What do you know?

Summary of data

Of the population of East Sussex, 299,064 (52%) are female and 270,788 (48%) are male.

Homelessness and gender: Women are less likely to experience forms of homelessness that are immediately visible to the public and to services, so it can be assumed that women are less likely to be homeless. However, women make up a greater percentage (60%) of those who are homeless and in temporary accommodation. 32% of homeless women from the general population reported that domestic abuse contributed to their homelessness and 52% of domestic abuse survivors need support to help them stay in their own home or move to new accommodation. Homelessness and domestic abuse spotlight - SafeLives

Women in refuges are also not visible to the public and not included in homelessness statistics. If a woman is homeless but not in temporary accommodation or a refuge, they are less likely to be visibly rough sleeping. Instead, women tend to stay in precarious accommodation, refuges, sleep on trains or other less visible places. In the last 10 years, the number of women in England who are homeless has increased by 88%. Myth Busting Women’s Homelessness | Homeless Link

The number of homelessness presentations as a result of domestic abuse are set out below:

(Sex)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·   Feedback from the development sessions for the Hastings Housing Strategy highlighted the need to create refuge provision in the town.

(Sex)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   Work is underway, lead by the Safer East Sussex Team, to implement the requirements of the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 including increasing refuge provision in East Sussex.

·   Domestic Abuse funding is invested in specialist support for services supporting victims with multiple compound needs, as part of a broader multi-disciplinary team created through the Changing Futures and Rough Sleeper Prevention and Recovery Programme.

(Sex)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   To work with the Safer East Sussex Team and the refuge provider to increase the supply of refuge accommodation, including identifying suitable properties.

·   Ensure refuge provision is included in preparations for the new Supported Housing Regulations.

·   To promote Domestic Abuse Housing Alliance (DAHA) accreditation to local housing partners and expanding co-location opportunities with specialist services including Independent Domestic Abuse Advisors.

·   To ensure links with specialist domestic abuse services are developed as part of the development of services for people living with multiple compound needs beyond March 2026.

Sexual orientation - The Act protects bisexual, gay, heterosexual and lesbian people.

(Sexual orientation)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

The 2021 East Sussex LGBTQI+ Comprehensive Needs Assessment estimates that there may be between 17,273 and 39,004 LGB+ people living in East Sussex (between 3.1% and 7% of the population) In adults, the GP patient survey found that mental health condition prevalence was significantly higher in LGB+ people (41%), compared to heterosexual people (11%), especially in bi people (56%).

Economic and Social Research found that heteronormative assumptions as well as experience and / or fears of discrimination prevent LGB&T people from accessing mainstream services. For this reason, LGB&T people prefer and are more engaged with specialist LGB&T organisations. According to the 2021 Census 3.3% of East Sussex residents declared themselves as LGB+ .

The East Sussex LGBTQ+ Comprehensive Needs Assessment (2021), identified the following challenges:

Discrimination in Housing Settings

• LGBTQ+ individuals, especially trans and non-binary people, reported feeling unsafe or unwelcome in shared housing environments.
• Experiences of bullying, harassment, and misgendering were common in supported accommodation.

 Older LGBTQ+ Adults

• Those aged 50+ expressed concerns about:
• • Loneliness and isolation
  • Lack of LGBTQ+-friendly housing
  • Limited access to specialist support services
• Services like Switchboard offer dementia support and bereavement groups tailored to LGBTQ+ elders.

 Youth Housing Vulnerability

• LGBTQ+ young people were more likely to experience family rejection, leading to housing instability or homelessness.

Need for Inclusive Housing Services

• The assessment highlighted the need for:
• • Training for housing staff on LGBTQ+ inclusion
  • Monitoring of sexual orientation and gender identity in housing services
  • Development of safe, inclusive housing options across East Sussex

According to the 2025 akt report, LGBTQ+ youth are:

• Twice as likely to experience hidden homelessness (e.g., sofa surfing, squatting).
• 26% of LGBTQ+ youth surveyed had experienced hidden homelessness, compared to 4% in government estimates.
• 33% of trans youth and 50% of non-white LGBTQ+ youth reported hidden homelessness

The East Sussex LGBTQ+ Needs Assessment (2021) found that:

• LGBTQ+ individuals are disproportionately impacted by homelessness.
• Contributing factors include family rejection, discrimination, and lack of inclusive services.
• There are gaps in data collection, making it harder to tailor services effectively.

The sexual orientation of people using local homelessness services is set out below:

(Sexual orientation)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

During the public engagement period, housing colleagues met with Stonewall Housing, a national charity supporting LGBTQ+ people of all ages who live in the UK and are experiencing homelessness or living in an unsafe environment. Stonewater Housing have recently opened a supported accommodation provision in East Sussex. Stonewater Housing also invite housing providers to sign up to their LGBTQ+ housing pledge, which demonstrates a commitment to LGBTQ+ support and equality.

(Sexual orientation)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   To continue to work with Stonewall Housing, and other local charities on the delivery of specialist to supported accommodation and to ensure these needs are reflected in the evidence based for new supported housing strategies.

·   To promote the LGBTQ+ pledge to local housing providers.

·   To work with the Safer East Sussex team on the mobilisation of specialist LGBTQ+ refuge provision.

·   To ensure the voice of LGBTQ+ residents is included in ongoing work to strengthen tenant involvement.

Marriage and civil partnership - Only in relation to due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination.

(Marriage & civil partnership)

What do you know?

Summary of data

According to 2021 census data for East Sussex:

· Single 29%

· Married 46.5%

· Civil Partnership 0.4%

· Divorced 11%

· Widowed 8%

The number of people presenting as homeless due to a non-violent relationship breakdown is set out below:

(Marriage & civil partnership)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

There were no specific comments about this protected characteristic to the online survey.

(Marriage & civil partnership)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   Relationship breakdown is recognised as a cause of homelessness nationally and in East Sussex.

(Marriage & civil partnership)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   Ensure mediation and wellbeing support are included as part of the broader approach to homelessness prevention. Ensuring that, when possible and safe to do so, couples can continue living together at the end of their relationship while the find alternative housing and avoid the need for temporary accommodation.

Armed Forces - protected by the Armed Forces Act 2021 which aims to help prevent service personnel, veterans and their families being disadvantaged when accessing public services. The duty applies to specifically housing, education or healthcare functions, but check whether any impacts may apply in your case.

(Armed forces)

What do you know?

Summary of data

In 2021, 21,173 people in East Sussex reported that they had previously served in the UK armed forces (4.6% of usual residents aged 16 years and over). There were 19,917 households (8.3% of all households) in East Sussex with at least one person who had served in the UK armed forces.

East Sussex had the 4th highest proportion of veterans in the 16 and over population (4.6%) in the Southeast.

The number of people using homelessness services in East Sussex who have served in HM Forces is set out below:

(Armed forces)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·         Responses to the online survey included “Veterans should be prioritised” and “provide cheap social housing and prioritise ex armed forces”.

(Armed forces)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·   Homelessness legislation makes provisions for veterans, including assessing a person as having priority need if they are vulnerable as a result of serving in the regular naval, military or air forces. UK Armed Forces Veterans are also exempt from rules that restrict access to social housing for those that do not have a connection to the local area.

(Armed forces)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·   Promoting opportunities to become an Armed Forces Champion to teams in housing and homelessness services.

·   Ensuring organisations representing veterans are included in partnership networks, including the East Sussex Homelessness Forum.

Impacts on community cohesion – Consider impacts on how groups see one another or how the council’s resources are seen to be allocated. Include opportunities to positively impact on good relations between groups.  

(Community cohesion)

What do you know?

Summary of data

Housing authorities and landlords play an important role in promoting community cohesion.

The tenure mix of housing in East Sussex is set out below:

The tenure mix by district and borough is set out below:

(Community cohesion)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·         A shortage of affordable housing has been highlighted as a significant barrier to community cohesion.

·         Concerns were noted in the online survey about the growth of Air BnBs and holiday homes, reducing the supply of long-term housing:

“Agree. We must make renting property a positive thing. If letting becomes too onerous for private landlords there will be a temptation to move to the Air BnB model for renting out property. This is particularly the case along the South Coast. There has been an impact nationally on locally available rental properties in popular holiday spots due to the growth in the holiday homes market.”

·         A number of responses to the online survey referred to anti-social behaviour:

“All good ideas, hope they work in practice and pathways don't get too complicated for making a difference. Greedy landlords must be kept in check, just as anti-social behaviour must be curbed.”

“Anti-social behaviour is a huge problem and again is at times the result of lack of knowledge and skills in how to live sociable i.e. for care leavers, homeless, people with severe mental health issues.  Support to help them learn these skills could be one element in reducing anti-social behaviour.”

“Anti-social behaviour should be addressed quite often social housing areas become areas of high anti-social behaviour. More joined up services to prevent this. Social housing should not be large, grouped areas.”

·         Responses to the online survey included:

“Why, as in other areas of the country, do we not have a homeless hostel in East Sussex? This could be jointly funded by all the local authorities and provide a safe haven for homeless people to stabilise and engage with the support services. This would assist in people having to sleep on the streets, reduce crime and anti-social behaviour and help to remove homelessness across the county.”

“Smaller units for single homeless people to have a space of their own and with support hub”

“Engage with the local community to see where they might volunteer help to these services and help build community relations and understanding”

(Community cohesion)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·         A shortage of affordable housing has been identified as a significant barrier to community cohesion. The growing number of households living in temporary accommodation has a significant negative effect on these individuals and families.

·         A number of responses to the online survey highlighted the important role housing providers can play in addressing anti-social behaviour. This is also a priority for the Regulator of Social Housing.

·         Access to stable housing on release from prison has been shown to have a significant benefit in reduce the re-offending rates.

(Community cohesion)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         The strategy includes a priority to maximise investment and delivery of affordable housing.

·         Collaboration between the Housing Partnership and the Safer East Sussex team to promote community and address shared priorities to reduce anti-social behaviour.

·         Expanding opportunities for co-location between local housing and probation services.

Rurality - issues can include isolation, access to services (eg: GPs, pharmacies, libraries, schools), low income / part-time work, infrequent public transport, higher transport and fuel costs and lack of affordable housing. Deprivation can be more dispersed and less visible.

(Rurality)

What do you know?

Summary of data

Rates of homelessness tend to be higher in the coastal urban towns of Hastings and Eastbourne, it also demonstrates the reach of the service into the rural areas of the county and proportionate with data population for East Sussex. 74% of the population in East Sussex lives in an urban area with the remaining 26% living in a rural area (2021 census). A report completed in 2023 Homelessness in the Countryside identified that rural areas receive 65% less funding per capita than urban for homelessness prevention and there is a 24% increase in rural rough sleeping in the past year.

New housing delivery targets have been announced for East Sussex, with potential for significant delivery in rural areas of the county:

(Rurality)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

The public engagement included a number of comments regarding the need for health, care and transport infrastructure keeping pace with new housing development.

Issues regarding a shortage of affordable housing were also highlighted throughout the public engagement. There have also been some recent examples of successful community-led housing schemes which have increased the supply of affordable housing.

A response from Icklesham Parish Council was supportive of the strategy priorities, particularly in terms of homelessness prevention and support to adapt homes to support older residents continue living independently.

Horam Parish Council highlighted their recently completed needs assessment in their response.

Arlington Parish Council highlighted the role local Parish Councillors can play in terms of their strong links to their communities and sharing insights and intelligence.

Heathfield and Waldron Parish Council commented “strategy is important, but is nothing without practical plans, and determined action. We wish you well in your work, support your goals, and hope to help wherever possible”.

Through the financial inclusion steering group, the feedback around the barriers for rural communities included:

·         A need for more outreach focused services to improve earlier access to support

·         A need to improve digital infrastructure to help reduce the risk of digital exclusion

(Rurality)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

A number of challenges are shared across rural and urban communities across the county, particularly a shortage of affordable housing and a need to ensure that infrastructure improvements keep pace with developments. In particular, gaps around outreach services to support homelessness prevention were identified.

(Rurality)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         The strategy includes a commitment to review existing homelessness prevention activity, including expanding outreach and home-visiting roles.

·         The strategy includes support for community led housing initiatives.

Carers - A carer is anyone, of any age, who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.

(Carers)

What do you know?

Summary of data

Care for the Carers estimates that there are 69,241 (11.7%) unpaid carers in East Sussex. It is difficult to know the actual number of carers because so many carers are hidden.

There are over 10,000 people claiming Carers Allowance in East Sussex. (Source DWP Feb 2020) 8% of carers aged under 55 cannot afford their rent/mortgage payments. 14% of carers are in debt as a result of caring. This increased to 23% for carers in receipt of Carer’s Allowance.

(Carers)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

Feedback from the online survey included: “Unpaid carers need to be involved always in hospital discharge, making sure people leaving hospital are being discharged into suitable accommodation with enough support”

(Carers)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

Feedback from the public engagement has highlighted opportunities to strengthen involvement of carers in service planning across housing, health and care. Both care leavers organisations and housing partners are represented on partnerships promoting financial inclusion.

(Carers)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         Ensuring the experience of carers is reflected in ongoing work to strengthen joint working across housing, health and care including the development of a new hospital discharge protocol.

·         Ensure organisations representing carers are

People with care experience: the term ‘care experienced’ refers to anyone who has been, or is currently, in care or from a looked after background at any stage in their life, no matter how short. 

Consider financial impacts for things like travel or access to projects; maintaining continuity of care and support (including mental and physical health and wellbeing, community and social connections), and access to opportunities.

(Care experience)

What do you know?

Summary of data

The number of care leavers presenting as homeless is set out below:

Partners have highlighted that people leaving care are often reliant on accessing accommodation in the private rented sector, which is becoming increasingly challenging and unaffordable.

(Care experience)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

Responses to online survey included:

“The term 'affordable' housing is a red herring. What is urgently needed is Social Housing with especial consideration for young people leaving care.”

“A 'half-way house' for care leavers would provide a safe environment for young care-levers where they could gradually become independent at their own pace and receive advice and support when needed.”

Feedback gathered during the MCN assessment included:

“For example, if somebody is a care leaver, but maybe they had a tenancy and it failed, and it failed because of all the obvious reasons, but it failed and it was ultimately their fault, we just say “well you’re intentionally homeless, and therefore we've got no duty to you”… it's just very frustrating sometimes because it's not the wrong decision, it's the right decision in terms of the legislation… But it's wrong”

(Care experience)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

Continuing to strengthen collaboration across housing partners and children’s services is identified as a priority in the strategy.

(Care experience)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         Co-produce a new care leavers protocol between housing and children’s services partners.

·         Ensure the needs of care leavers are reflected in scoping the new supported housing strategies to meet the new regulations.

·         Continue to review and develop our support services to improve access to accommodation.

Other people that may be differently affected and/or whose views are seldom heard - this will vary by service, but includes people who:

·   are homeless or in insecure housing,

·   in prison,

·   with low levels of literacy,

·   are digitally excluded,

·   experiencing severe loneliness (a feeling of lack or loss of companionship)

·   experiencing or in recovery from drug and alcohol addiction (and their families),

·   have or are experiencing domestic or sexual abuse

(Other impacts)

What do you know?

Summary of data

·         There is a significant link between homelessness and re-offending. The housing partnership works closely with criminal justice partners to reduce the risk of homelessness on release.

·         The East Sussex Multiple Compound Needs Assessment sets out the number of people living with at least 3 supported needs in East Sussex:

·         People experience homelessness have been identified as at higher risk of digital exclusion.

(Other impacts)

What do people tell you?

Summary of feedback

·         There was a significant response to the public engagement highlighting the need to continue strengthening alcohol and substance dependency support for people experiencing homelessness.

·         Learning from the tackling loneliness programme, delivered in partnership with Public Health and Sussex Community Development Association explored the links between housing and homelessness and loneliness, in particular the additional risks faced by people living in temporary accommodation or sheltered housing. The programme includes recommendations about the use of communal spaces to help reduce loneliness.

(Other impacts)

What does this mean?

Impacts identified

·         The aim of the housing partnership is to support cross sector collaboration to ensure the needs of people who may otherwise be seldom heard are met.

(Other impacts)

What can you do?

All potential actions

·         Continue to strengthen collaboration between housing and criminal justice partners, including exploring co-location opportunities with probation partners.

·         Continue to work with the Multiple Compound Needs Board to implement the recommendations from the recent needs assessment.

·         Continue to work with the financial inclusion steering group to promote digital inclusion.

·         Support the implementation of the connection test developed through the tackling loneliness programme within local housing and homelessness services.

Staff impacts: if your proposal affects staff, have you consulted with the Staff Networks? (contact details are on the equality pages of the intranet: search for ‘staff networks’)

The draft strategy has been developed with colleagues from across housing and partner services.

Assessment of overall impacts, summary of actions and any further recommendations

The aim of the Housing Partnership is to set a long-term vision for the development of the housing services in East Sussex. Key feedback from the public engagement has included:

·         Strong support for preventative services and providing support for people at risk of homelessness at an earlier stage.

• Many people said homeless people need better help with mental health problems and drug or alcohol problems.
• Support for partners working together more collaboratively to reduce the risk of people missing out on support.
• A shortage of affordable housing was highlighted as a significant challenge across the county.
• Housing is an important enabler for people to live healthy, independent lives as they get older.

The partnership are keen to continue to improve the quality of our equalities monitoring information across housing and to strengthen lived experience involvement in designing and delivering services.

Source and type of data (e.g. research, or direct engagement (interviews), responses to questionnaires, etc.)

Date

Gaps in data (were there any people you didn’t hear from? Does research include information on all characteristics?)

Actions to fill these gaps: who else do you need to engage with?

(add these to the Action Plan below, with a timeframe)

Strategy priorities have been co-produced with partners in housing and partner sectors since November 2024

Online Survey

June – August 2025

Risk of digital exclusion.

Partners were encouraged to promote the survey through their networks and paper copies of the survey were made available.

H-Clic Homelessness Returns

March 2022 – March 2025

Some local authority returns were missing for 2022/23.

Insights are cross checked against feedback from partner services and national trends.

Alongside census data, the EQIA also draws on data from recent needs assessments carried out by Public Health.

Impact identified and group(s) affected

Action planned

Expected outcome

Measure of success

Timeframe

To jump back to potential actions identified above, click on the relevant hyperlink: Actions from previous EqIA, Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage & Civil Partnership, Pregnancy & Maternity, Race, Religion & Belief, Sex, Sexual Orientation, Armed Forces, Community Cohesion, Rurality, Carers, Care Experience, Other Impacts, Staff Impacts

All Characteristics

Work with local housing partners to continue to improve the monitoring of equalities information for housing allocations and social housing tenants.

Improved monitoring will enable the local authorities to identify service improvements.

Annual equalities monitoring report shared with the housing management and standards group.

By December 2026

All Characteristics

Strengthen ongoing lived experience involvement in the local housing services.

Lived experience involvement helps to shape service design and delivery.

Approach to lived experience involvement agreed by the housing partnership.

By September 2026.

Age

Disability

Carers

Review existing protocols between housing, health and care to strengthen partnership working, beginning with a new hospital discharge protocol.

Improved experience for people using housing, health and care services. Reduced number of delayed discharges from hospital.

Hospital discharge protocol co-produced and adopted.

By September 2026

Age

Disability

Work with colleagues in adult social care to identify housing outcomes from a broader review of older people’s services.

Learning and feedback from the strategy engagement shared as part of the review. Opportunities to increase the range of accommodation options and support for older people agreed.

Review completed and housing recommendations agreed.

Review to be completed in 2026/27.

Age

Care Leavers

New Care Leavers Protocol developed and agreed.

Improved pathways between children’s services and housing, helping to reduce the risk of care leavers becoming homeless.

Care Leavers Protocol adopted.

By September 2026.

Disability

Implement the recommendations from the Multiple Compound Needs Assessment.

The multiple compound needs assessment included recommendations to improve multi-disciplinary working.

Action plan of recommendations from the assessment agreed by the Multiple Compound Needs Board.

By April 2026.

(Add more rows as needed)