The average number of households in temporary accommodation in the District decreased from 41 in 2010 to 36 in 2011, despite an increase in enquiries.
Statistics produced by the Council’s housing department show that whilst enquiries have risen, the numbers of homeless applications (80 in 2011 compared with 93 in 2010) have decreased.
St Albans City & District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Housing Brian Ellis said: ”The increased emphasis and resources directed to provide housing advice by the Council’s housing team, coupled with the use of the rent deposit scheme and the Credit Union’s good work in providing loans for deposits, seems to be paying dividends. These measures, and other initiatives from the Council and our partners, are helping to keep down the number of homelessness applications. For example, the Credit Union helped over 40 local households who might otherwise have been made homeless, secure private rented accommodation in 2011.”
Partnership work continues to play an important role. The Council has been working with local housing association Hightown Praetorian and Churches to secure a £50,000 grant from homeless charity Crisis. The money is being used to pay for a dedicated worker who will help single people and childless couples on low incomes and at risk of sleeping rough to secure tenancies in the private rented sector. As part of the scheme, the Council is also providing £15,000 to help secure 36 tenancies this year, money that will be recycled and used again year after year to help those in need.
The housing team also secured £6,500 for the Open Door night shelter in St Albans to keep the service open every morning until lunchtime through the winter months. With the help of the Council’s housing team, Open Door has set up emergency provision for severe weather periods. Additionally, the St Albans District Credit Union, supported by the Council, has successfully bid for £8,000 homelessness funding to provide loans to single homeless people for deposits to help them find private rented accommodation. This money will supplement the £6,500 for the Credit Union has received from the National Westminster Bank Community Fund.
The Council’s housing statistics show that evictions by family and friends continue to be a reason for homelessness, however, there was a decrease of parental evictions in 2011 from 12 in 2010 to 2 in 2011.
One area of concern is the sharp increase in the number of families becoming homeless because their private sector tenancy ends and their landlord does not offer a further tenancy (24 cases in 2011 compared with 13 in 2010). Changes to Local Housing Allowance rates set by central government are believed to be one of the reasons why this may be happening. For example, the median rent for a 1 bedroom home in St Albans in December 2011 was £173 whilst the Local Housing Allowance - the amount the Council is able to pay in housing benefit - is £144.23.
Member contact:
Cllr Brian Ellis, Portfolio Holder for Housing, St Albans City and District Council, Tel: 01582 767621
Contact for the press:
Claire Wainwright, Principal Communications and Marketing Officer
St Albans City and District Council
Tel: 01727 819572
E-mail: claire.wainwright@stalbans.gov.uk
www.stalbans.gov.uk