Beds in council-owned properties open to homeless in Leamington

The Warwick District Council (WDC) will be opening its properties to offer 18 temporary beds to homeless people living in the district.

An estimated 20 people are currently sleeping rough in the district, alongside a further 3,000 who have applied for housing support but are left on the waiting list, besides others move between hostels and room shares. Those who are not given a temporary bed will be allocated to a bed and breakfast.

The motion had previously been proposed by Labour councillors, but was rejected by the Conservative-led council. However, both parties have now agreed to go ahead with the plan, which is expected to save £60,000 a year.

Previously, the budget for bed and breakfast accommodation was £84,000, but costs were expected to rise by over 50%. This follows dramatic cuts last October which saw three homeless-support hostels shut, more than halving the number of beds available from 120 to just 57.

We hope the Conservatives will now go further to meet the needs of all those on the housing waiting list or in unsatisfactory accommodation.

This year’s District Council Housing Strategy noted big increases in the numbers of homelessness applications received and accepted by the council — both increases higher than the national average. Meanwhile, the number of cases where homelessness was prevented or reduced was found to be well below the level that it was three years ago.

The report stated: “Leamington Spa residents are very upset by the number of homeless people sleeping in the town centre and hope that Warwick District Council achieve some very quick results in reducing this, in liaison with the police, local voluntary bodies and other relevant parties.”

“As a local authority we recognise the detrimental effects that homelessness can have on an individual’s life; it can affect their health and well-being, their ability to find and maintain employment, to access learning and to maintain vital relationships. Given the adverse effects of homelessness, not only on the individual but their wider community, it is essential that services are provided to prevent homelessness wherever possible.”

Labour councillor Colin Quinney commented: “We welcome the move to house homeless people with the greatest needs in council-owned properties rather than using bed and breakfast accommodation. It is definitely a step in the right direction.”

“We believe that is a much better solution for these families, while costing the council less.”

“We hope the Conservatives will now go further to meet the needs of all those on the housing waiting list or in unsatisfactory accommodation, by investing in more council house stock.”

The existing situation is shameful. Labour will commit to building low-cost housing units to satisfy this desperate need.

Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western, who was elected to replace Conservative Chris White for Warwick and Leamington in the snap election, has campaigned for the Warwick County and District councils to work together and “look at their own housing and property portfolio to see what accommodation can be provided at reduced cost or rent-free, both temporarily and in the medium-term.”

In a recent interview with The Boar, he added: “This means planning, housing and property departments must work together pro-actively to re-use property rather than responding to commercial or “market” needs.”

“The existing situation is shameful. Labour will commit to building low-cost housing units to satisfy this desperate need as part of a wider program for much needed affordable and social housing in our community – there is a current waiting list of approximately 2,500.”

Leamington Winter Support’s Night Shelter has recorded 254 separate visitors from the local area.