Rise in homeless families in temporary accommodation
BUT CITY COUNCIL AIMS FOR NO-ONE TO BE IN A B&B BY THE END OF THE YEAR
THE number of homeless families being put up in temporary accommodation has risen again in Nottingham but fewer are in B&BS.
Government figures released this week show 223 people were living in temporary accommodation in the city – 13 more than this time last year and 133 more than in 2010.
But they also show that the number of people in B&BS – considered a much worse option than a proper house by homeless charities – has fallen dramatically as Nottingham City Council finds better places to put them.
The council is aiming to have no-one in a B&B by the end of the year and has found extra accommodation to house people.
Homelessness charity Framework said the figures showed the council was doing its best but that it was facing “a perfect storm” of a rising homeless population and dwindling resources to tackle it.
Andrew Redfern, the charity’s chief executive, said: “The increase is bad news as it shows more people are presenting as homeless but the fact that they seem to be finding alternatives to bed and breakfasts is a good thing.
“Probably the reason people do not like B&BS is, it is a matter of putting a family in one room. They can go downstairs for breakfast but there’s nothing apart from that. Where are the kids going to do their homework? Temporary accommodation - a couple of rooms with a cooker - is usually better.”
Temporary accommodation usually means self-contained flats or houses – either in a hostel or around the city.
The council has a responsibility to put a roof over the head of people who go to it with “priority housing needs” meaning those with dependants or long-term health problems.
Ideally, they go into housing but when there is not enough of this, they are moved into B&BS.
Last year, 114 people were living in B&BS at the end of March but this was down to 46 this year - although back in 2010, no-one was sleeping in a B&B.
The council spent £646,022 on fulfilling its legal obligations to shelter homeless families in 2016-17 - a huge rise from £109,650 the year before.
Previous figures show that on December 31, the council was putting up 100 homeless families in hostels, 50 in B&BS and 37 in council housing – the highest number on record.
Meanwhile, the number of people sleeping rough has gone back up since winter emergency measures to keep people alive as temperatures dropped below freezing ended.
The number had fallen into the low teens over winter but has returned to around 40 and is likely to stay at that level until the weather turns cold again, according to Framework, as the warm weather makes living outside a more survivable option.
Councillor Jane Urquhart Portfolio holder for planning and housing, said: “We work with partner agencies to prevent and tackle homelessness and one of the things we have focused on together is reducing the use of bed and breakfast accommodation, which is an expensive and less-than-ideal way of dealing with the situation.
“To do this we set up a cross-council delivery group last autumn which has provided further funding to target support to help tenants retain and access private rented accommodation and procured extra self-contained temporary accommodation of suitable standards. We have also strengthened processes across the partnership to ensure households in the most need are prioritised for accommodation and the length of stay in temporary accommodation is minimised and appropriate support is in place.
“We’re pleased with progress so far, especially in the face of significant Government cuts, and will continue with this focus to meet our target of having no households in bed and breakfast accommodation by the end of the year.”