Homeless crisis: 600 seek help every month

MORE than 600 Birmingham families and individuals seek help because of pending homelessness every month – enough to fill four 20-storey tower blocks.

That is the stark reality of the huge challenge facing the city revealed by the city’s cabinet lead on homes and neighbourhoods, Councillor Sharon Thompson, writing in today’s Post.

With soaring numbers of applications for support from families, the city’s approach to homelessness is coming under increasing scrutiny.

Recent figures show the level of rough sleeping is rising dramatically and the recent death of rough sleeper Kane Walker, 31, brought home the horror of life on the streets.

But that, says Cllr Thompson, does not come close to telling the full story.

Cllr Thompson writes: “In Birmingham the scale of hidden homelessness is vast but thousands more people across the city are at risk of homelessness. This could be as a result of missing just one payday and not being able to cover their mortgage or rent.

“Each month, the council sees approximately 600 families and individuals making a new statutory homeless application, who are in need of temporary accommodation. That’s the equivalent of filling four, 20-storey tower blocks with homeless families every single month.

To truly respond to the issue of rough sleeping and homelessness, there needs to be a joined up response from the public, private and charity sectors which is focused upon preventing someone from becoming homeless in the first place.”