Plans are being discussed by Brighton and Hove City Council to fight the current situation regarding homelessness with an estimated cost of £8 million.
The issue surrounding rough sleeping has been a key problem for local government for a number of years following consistent issues surrounding the relocation of the homeless population into other neighbouring towns.
Caroline Ansell, MP for Eastbourne has raised the issue more than once within the House of commons in an attempt to get government intervene to prevent and remove the influx of people that is believed to have impacted the crime figures where they were placed.
Figures have revealed that there is still more than 200 people who are being housed nearby in Eastbourne and Lewes.
This has improved since the 330 plus figure that stretched council resources following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the city’s citizens.
However, there is still great anger within Eastbourne Council towards Brighton and Hove for their conduct in using their town as a homeless shelter, with such inconsiderate practices making it harder for their own rehousing efforts.
In the proposals suggested to remedy the issue, the package is split into five suggestions:
To use £700,000 of government money and borrow £2.1 million to purchase 12 homes that can accommodate higher need rough sleepers.
To use £1.163 million of government money and borrow £2.08 million to purchase 30 properties on ten-year leases that provides rehousing for lower need rough sleepers as quick as possible.
To continue to use emergency short term hotel accommodation until March 2022 for those who are owed statutory accommodation under the Homeless Reduction Act.
To reduce the predicted £2.6 million overspent on temporary housing by allocating the remaining £1.615 million from relevant government grant funding.
To prepare to fund 15-20 hotel rooms ahead of the severe weather emergency protocol (SWEP) from October 2021 to March 2022.
With the situation surrounding the lack of available resources, there is a real need to fund and develop new locations that will allow the removal of residents from Eastbourne and take the remaining population off the streets of Brighton.
Photo Credit: Jon Tyson
