Homelessness – an issue that is not going away any time soon

National statistics issued in January showed a 268% increase in homelessness in England between 2010 and 2017.

This is a shocking rise, and is a damning indictment of where society is heading as regards to housing.

Homelessness is more than just those who rough sleep, but the rough sleepers are the obvious sign that housing needs are not being met. Walk down the High Street on any given day and you will be confronted by the sad sight of those seeking refuge in shop doorways and under the railway bridge.

Southend-on-Sea is ninth in the league of local authorities as regards to the number of rough sleepers. The stats show a 64% rise in rough sleeper numbers in a year. In some ways we are a victim of our success when it comes to giving succour to those without homes.

As austerity grinds on (over eight years now) we see cuts year on year to all sorts of agencies that were there to help. Now we often see skeleton services, and one wonders whether all will survive as austerity is promised for a few more years yet.

We do not have enough social housing, The number of council homes is at a new record low, with fewer properties to rent from local authorities than at any point in almost 50 years.

Social house building plummeted after the introduction of the right to buy for council tenants. Local authorities were not allowed to re-invest funds in new housing stock, and with the virtual giving away of new homes under the right to buy scheme there was almost no incentive for local authorities to build.

With high house price values, high rents, and a shortage of low-cost accommodation the homelessness issue is not going away soon. Add in the abundance of low-wage jobs with uncertain hours, and the rise in substance abuse, and the challenge is enormous. Unless government tackles the issue, and the causes, we will have to get used to seeing more and more sleeping rough.

Basildon & Southend Housing Action

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Helping the community grow self-sufficiently through shared information and action. Bringing local authorities to task. Putting residents before councils and Councillors. Stopping council staff bullying and harassment towards tenants.

Press Release

Southend Labour disappointed with council properties' sales

On December 7th, 2016, the Council sold 2A Bournemouth Park Road for £224,000. On the same day it also sold 4 Cranley Avenue for £301,000

Labour councillors were disappointed that the Conservative Administration decided to sell these two properties, which have been used for decades as social housing.

These properties were family homes, one for more than 40 years and another for over twenty years. The two properties were relinquished by their tenants, as in both cases one of the residents encountered ill health.

The council have used the technical argument that the properties are not part of the South Essex Homes portfolio, yet both sets of residents had access to the full range of services from SEH over the period that the properties were managed by them. Previously, the properties were managed directly by the council, prior to ALMO transfer and even further back, by Essex County Council.

Cllr Anne Jones says: "It hardly matters to families deserving of housing, which part of the council are responsible for particular properties. They just want a place to call home. The Conservatives have stated that the properties are in need of major repair, but this is not the case and is an insult to the families who resided there. Both properties, internally and externally were meticulously maintained by the residents who took pride in their much loved homes."

The Conservatives describe these properties as 'not typical council houses', whatever that means and not 'not forming part of an estate', which further shows the lack of regard that they have for the people of this town. Such stereo typical views are most unwelcome and indicative of an administration out of touch with the people it serves.

The excuses that are given by the Conservatives do not hold up to scrutiny, as they continue to let similar properties at market rent from the same property portfolio, resulting in sustained income and the retention of family homes, much needed in the current housing crisis.

Cllr Jones goes on to say: "The revenue from these sales ( £525,000) will not be ploughed back into social housing (unlike receipts from Right To Buy) Instead it will transfer to the Council's General Fund. It is interesting to note that the costs of plans for commemorating  Southend's 125th anniversary are estimated at a similar figure."

Cllr Julian Ware-Lane said: "I am sure other properties have also been sold in recent years. Bearing in mind the local housing crisis and the large housing list, what does the selling of these properties say to those who still await to be housed by this Council?"

"It really is very disappointing" Julian, "The money raised is roughly equal to what is being spent on the 125 year anniversary of the Borough; I think a better way to celebrate would be the housing of two families by the local authority."

Southend Labour secures new council homes for residents

Press release

This week five new council houses in Shoeburyness will be occupied by local families,  due to the work done by Labour councillors in administration over the last couple of years. This will provide better quality, more affordable housing in Southend, all the homes have been built according to Communities Agency (HCA) space standards, and to Lifetime Homes specification.  

Under the joint administration formed in 2014, the Southend Labour Party launched a £3 million scheme to construct between 13 and 27 council homes.

 With house prices up 14% on last year, it is essential the current Conservative administration continue to implement the Labour Party’s flagship scheme in Southend.  

Cllr Ian Gilbert, Leader of the Labour Group, says:  "The government is making it harder at every turn for local councils to build council housing. We recognise that these new homes are a drop in the ocean compared to what is needed, yet this is still five more local families who will have decent place to live. It shows that even in a brief spell in administration we can get things done."

With Theresa May refusing to provide a clear national direction for solving the housing crisis, Councillor David Norman and colleagues within Southend Labour have worked tirelessly to guarantee Southend resident’s affordable housing.  National Tory policy fails to provide more social housing, better private rental regulation or the construction of more council housing. Ultimately, this left many people unable to gain a foothold on the first rung of the property ladder.  

According to data collected by the charity Shelter, Southend had in 2013 5,676 people on housing waiting lists.  The Conservative administration must accept their responsibility to rapidly expand this program in order to assist these residents.