Problem finding a roof over your head? You are not alone and it’s not surprising. Something to think about on World Homelessness Day on October 10th. A chance to showcase the great work being done to tackle homelessness in Ipswich.
Homes in England are less affordable and in worse condition than those in most other developed nations, a new report shows.
Analysis from the Home Builders Federation – the representative body of the home building industry – reveals the extent of the difficulties facing people trying to find somewhere to live that is decent and affordable.
Existing English homes are in the worst condition of all European countries, with 15% failing required quality standards – significantly worse than poorer Eastern European nations.
Skyrocketing housing costs mean 11.3 million people in England spend more than 40% of their household income on their home – more than any other country in Europe.
England has a shortage of housing, with the lowest rates of available properties compared to other developed countries.
Ipswich has one of the highest numbers of homeless applications, per head of population, in England.
To be legally defined as homeless you must either lack a secure place in which you are entitled to live or not reasonably be able to stay.
But there is also ‘hidden’ homelessness. People who stay in hostels, squats or B&Bs, in overcrowded accommodation or ‘concealed’ housing, such as the floors or sofas of friends and family.
The Housing Options team at Ipswich Borough Council (IBC) work hard with applicants, and landlords, aiming to prevent people from losing their home. They have had a lot of success with this, but unfortunately some households pass into temporary accommodation.
IBC has invested heavily in helping people who are homeless. When Labour first took control of the council twelve years ago, the temporary accommodation for homeless families was in a former Victorian workhouse supplemented by portacabins. We now have two modern units, converted from disused sheltered housing, which provide individual flats for families and single people.
These units give safe, warm and dignified temporary accommodation for people until they can find a permanent new home.
Latest figures show over 100 households are in temporary accommodation. IBC capacity is full, so many single people are placed into Bed and Breakfast properties.
Despite all the investment we’ve made there are still people sleeping rough. This is being made worse by the escalating cost of living crisis and the fact that the Tory Government, despite its promises, still hasn’t legislated to stop “no fault” evictions which are a major cause of people being made homeless.
Rough sleeping is a very complex issue and not just about housing.
The support is there for people to get off the streets, though some struggle to take this up because of lack of trust, previous bad experiences or due to behaviour or addiction. The event in St Stephens church will show the great support work done by IBC, iHag, Anglia Care Trust, Emmaus, NHS Health Outreach, Salvation Army, Ipswich Outreach and others. Rough sleepers can be the most challenging people to help, but these organisations won’t give up on anyone.
Of course, the long-term answer is to build more homes. I was delighted to visit IBC’s building site at Ravenswood last week, where 96 homes are under construction. I wrote recently about the 150 IBC homes under way at Bibb Way. Fifty more will start in the new year. These are the future, though many more will be needed to give everyone a roof over their head.