Families with stable income now ‘at risk of homelessness’
FAMILIES with stable jobs are at a serious risk of homelessness due to rising rent costs, it has been warned.
The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman in England said people in professions who might never have expected to face problems finding somewhere to live are now being affected by homelessness.
The ombudsman, Michael King, said nurses, taxi drivers, council workers and hospitality staff were some of those helped by his office after being placed in often squalid temporary accommodation by local authorities in England, The Guardian reported.
The watchdog found that the increasing cost of private rentals has forced many to call on their council for help.
Although the report focused solely on England, the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said that there has been an increase across Wales in the numbers of people asking their local authority for assistance.
It said there was a 29% increase in the number of households assessed that were threatened with homelessness this year.
The report, into local councils, found homeless families are routinely being housed in damp or infested temporary accommodation for weeks on end and said too many people are being left in situations which are “simply unacceptable in modern society”. Among the cases were: One family with two young children who reported finding cockroaches in the bed and breakfast where they spent 26 weeks after being evicted from their private rented accommodation.
A council which paid out £5,700 to a mother-of-three whose diabetic baby son had to be hospitalised after the family were housed in various bed and breakfasts and a hostel.
A disabled single parent with four children put up in B&B accommodation for nearly two and a half years after her benefits were capped. The council ignored letters from medical professionals outlining concerns that living in the property was affecting the family’s health.
Mr King said: “Our cases show many preconceived ideas about the people affected by homelessness simply no longer ring true. The increasing cost of private rents has meant we have seen a shift towards more people in professions such as nursing, and their families, becoming affected.
“Many of these families are being placed in poor-quality accommodation, for periods significantly longer than the six-week legal limit. And we’re seeing signs the problems are growing more acute, particularly with an increase in the length of time families are having to stay in temporary accommodation.
“More worrying still, we are finding that many families are not being told of their review rights when placed in unsuitable accommodation, so they have no information on how to challenge the decision and improve their circumstances.”
A WLGA spokesman said: “The changes to homelessness legislation in Wales introduced in 2015 mean that local authorities are helping more households by preventing them becoming homeless. Across Wales there has been an increase in the numbers of people approaching their local authority for assistance. During 2016-17 local authorities assessed 9,210 households as threatened with homelessness, this was a 29% increase from the previous year.
“For over 5,700 of these households homelessness was successfully prevented for at least six months. Loss of rented or tied accommodation was given as the main reason by over a third of households threatened with homelessness.”
Homeless charity Crisis said that the ombudsman report reveals the “hugely devastating impacts” on those living in temporary accommodation.
The charity’s Matt Downie said: “As social housing declines, welfare cuts bite and private renting costs soar, people who were less likely to become homeless in the past are now being pushed further to the brink of losing their homes.”
The Public Services Ombudsman for Wales said the number of complaints they received from homeless people in the past two years is “very small”.
But the watchdog added: “However, this could be indicative of the fact that it is often very difficult for homeless people to make a complaint, particularly as current legislation requires all complaints to be made in writing. However, the Assembly is currently considering a draft Bill which would give me the power to accept oral complaints, as well as proactive powers to allow me to
investigate an area of concern without first receiving a complaint, making my services more accessible to the most vulnerable in society.”
The UK Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government spokesperson said councils had a duty to provide safe, secure and suitable temporary accommodation.
“Tackling homelessness is a complex issue with no single solution, but we are determined to help the most vulnerable in society,” they said. “That’s why we are providing over £1bn up to 2020 to prevent and reduce all forms of homelessness and rough sleeping. We are also bringing in the Homelessness Reduction Act – the most ambitious legislation in decades that will mean people get the support they need earlier.”
The Welsh Government said that it had prevented homelessness for nearly 13,000 households since new legislation came into force in 2015.
A spokesperson said: “We recognise the pressures on affordable accommodation and the increasing insecurity arising from the UK Government’s austerity and welfare reform policies, and are doing everything we can to tackle this and to prevent homelessness in Wales.”