“It can be very easy to judge homeless people, but we need to remember that homelessness can occur for a variety of reasons. For example, when men or women flee from domestic violence, or are faced with mortgage repossession following loss of employment, or when family and friends are no longer able to offer accommodation.” (Councillor Andrew Gravells)
During the recent count to establish how many people were sleeping rough in the city, 14 people were found and they have now been assisted into accommodation.
Councillor Andrew Gravells has said that housing is one area of the council’s work, which really makes a difference, hard work from the staff has prevented nearly 400 households from becoming homeless. This work is done through partnership working and Councillor Gravells, who encourages partnership working, recently brokered a meeting between Brian Jones from the GEAR Project, and staff from the Supporting People Project. One of many initiatives is a “Housing Options Service” to support households before they reach the stage where they might become homeless.
Everyone is entitled to advice and assistance but the council looks at each case very thoroughly. Councillor Gravells warns that it is not a soft touch for anybody who thinks it’s easy to secure council accommodation. However vulnerable households, as tightly defined by housing law, may be placed into emergency accommodation for a short period of time when no other accommodation is available for them.
1,900 households have approached the council’s housing service and exactly 357 people were homeless or were threatened with homelessness; 1,543 had an urgent housing need. Councillor Andrew Gravells said, “Our city council housing staff are our best asset, and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to very publicly thank them for the sterling work they do to make life easier for so many people who find them themselves needing some help and advice with their housing needs, especially in this cold spell in the run-up to Christmas.”
Cold Weather Policy
He also said that In bitterly cold weather, the city council operates a cold weather policy, so that when the temperature falls below zero anyone without accommodation will be found somewhere to go.
