Housing shortage hits homeless
A HOUSING shortage in Solihull poses “considerable difficulties” when trying to find a accommodation for the homeless on a permanent or temporary basis.
The dearth of suitable properties within the borough – and the need to ensure more are built – is touched upon in a new action-plan approved by the council this week.
The homelessness and rough sleeping strategy covers the steps that the local authority intends to take between 2020-2023.
But the 12-page document admits that there are difficulties “finding suitable and affordable housing solutions”, with particular challenges for the under 35s.
It said: “The short supply of affordable accommodation in Solihull is an underlying factor in the level of homelessness in the borough.
“Whilst Solihull Community Housing can ensure that existing properties are allocated in a way which affords reasonable preference to groups including homeless households, the number of available lettings is reducing each year.
“There remains an unmet need for homes at social rent including family-sized accommodation and this should inform the approach that the council takes in negotiating the supply of affordable homes in new developments through its planning policies.”
The report once again reiterated that the number of people sleeping rough was still in single figures – two at the most recent count – but there are far higher numbers of socalled hidden homeless.
The council has said that there “will be more emphasis on early and effective intervention”, having conceded that by some measures it is trailing comparable authorities.
George Daley, from the housing team, said: “We need to make sure that we improve our performance on preventing homelessness but also relieving homelessness.
“To say that we need improvement doesn’t say that Solihull is vastly lagging behind; it’s an issue that most local authorities are getting to grips with.”
A number of successful bids for funding have been made in 2019/20, these include £37,7-0 to hire a rough-sleeping co-ordinator and £13,300 to bolster support on offer during the colder winter months.
The strategy was approved by Cllr Karen Grinsell, cabinet member for adult social care and health, and will be published online before the end of the month.