Hackney council has pledged to stop housing homeless people in expensive private temporary housing by 2020.
Hackney provide temporary housing for homeless people before they can find permanent homes in the borough.
This can often be in expensive private hostels or BnBs.
However there is simply not enough social housing available. In the last thirty years, ten thousand Hackney council houses have been sold off under Right to Buy.
As a result many get stuck in temporary housing – for up to five years.
With over one and a half thousand people, Hackney Council has more families living in homeless hostels than anywhere else in London, more than twice of any other borough.
With 25 families contacting Hackney Council daily in need of urgent housing, demand is exceeding the supply of social housing.
The increase in demand has translated to increase in expense – As the council has to pay for hostel rents.
In 2011 this cost the council £9.5 million, this expense has risen to £35 million in 2016.
According to Hackney Council, the pledge now rests on central government support to tackle homelessness.
“until the government recognises the scale of the housing crisis and stops adding fuel to the fire with its welfare cuts and plans for selling off social housing, all we can do is work to mitigate its effects and provide the best support we can to Hackney residents.”
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HeadlineHackney pledge to eliminate private temporary housing by 2020
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Hackney council has pledged to stop housing homeless people in expensive private temporary housing by 2020.
Hackney provide temporary housing for homeless people before they can find permanent homes in the borough.
This can often be in expensive private hostels or BnBs.
However there is simply not enough social housing available. In the last thirty years, ten thousand Hackney council houses have been sold off under Right to Buy.
As a result many get stuck in temporary housing – for up to five years.
With over one and a half thousand people, Hackney Council has more families living in homeless hostels than anywhere else in London, more than twice of any other borough.
With 25 families contacting Hackney Council daily in need of urgent housing, demand is exceeding the supply of social housing.
The increase in demand has translated to increase in expense – As the council has to pay for hostel rents.
In 2011 this cost the council £9.5 million, this expense has risen to £35 million in 2016.
According to Hackney Council, the pledge now rests on central government support to tackle homelessness.
“until the government recognises the scale of the housing crisis and stops adding fuel to the fire with its welfare cuts and plans for selling off social housing, all we can do is work to mitigate its effects and provide the best support we can to Hackney residents.”
