Posted 05.09.14
A project filmed for a future edition of Homes Under the Hammer was officially opened by the Mayor of Ashford, Cllr John Link.
Christchurch House was a rundown commercial property bought at auction by Ashford Borough Council in December 2013. The property has been transformed into good quality short-stay accommodation for people to whom the Council has a homeless duty or have a case under assessment.
There are eight accommodation units (including a wheelchair-accessible unit) in the renovated building, with washing facilities, a communal kitchen area, along with storage space and a pleasant courtyard.
Traditionally, the majority of homeless applicants whom the Council has a duty to house have been placed in bed and breakfast (B&B) accommodation; not only is this costly for the taxpayer, with B&B costing the taxpayer an average of £60 per night, but it is a traumatic experience that takes its toll on the individuals and families affected.
The Council has a proven track record of innovation in its approach to homelessness prevention, with its own social lettings agency, a leasing scheme and a deposit bond scheme enabling the authority to discharge its duty into the private rented sector. This power was given to councils under the 2011 Localism Act.
While the Council may not be able to house all homeless applicants in Christchurch Road, it will save the taxpayer around £75,000 a year, meaning the property will pay for itself in a short space of time.
If the scheme is as successful as anticipated, it may be replicated elsewhere in the borough.
Posted 01.09.14
Over one in three working parents in England are having to cut back on buying food to be able to afford their rent or mortgage, new research from Shelter reveals.
The YouGov poll also found that one in ten parents had had to skip whole meals to be able to pay for their homes.
Shelter is warning that millions of working families, whose monthly budgets are already stretched to breaking point by high housing costs, are at serious risk of losing their home if they face any sudden cut in income or further price rises.
The research highlights the very real tough choices parents are having to make to stay in their homes. Over a million working parents said they'd put off buying their children new shoes, and one in ten said they'd had to put off buying new school uniforms to pay their rent or mortgage.
The Government's recent English Housing Survey shows that households are spending 28% of weekly incomes just on their housing costs. For private renters, this went up to 40%.
Campbell Robb, Chief Executive of Shelter, said:
"No parent should be forced to choose between putting food on the table and paying for the roof over their children's heads. These shocking figures show that millions of us are having to make these kinds of agonising choices every day.
"No matter how hard ordinary families work, with housing swallowing so much of their monthly budget, any drop in income can all too quickly put their home at serious risk.
"We desperately need the Government to make sure there is a safety net that's strong enough to catch families who fall on hard times, and stop them from going through the tragedy of losing their home."
