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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/housing-network/2016/dec/02/human-cost-benefits-cap-tenants-shunted-england-councils
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| The displaced tenants paying the true cost of an inhumane housing policy | |
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| Moving social housing tenants from one council borough to another is nothing new: in 2007, residents reported being offered housing elsewhere. But a three-pronged policy shift has intensified and increased the number and distance of placements: rising rents, the benefits cap, and new powers under the Localism Act 2011. The latter allows councils to offer out-of-borough placements and discharge their duty to house residents if they refuse such an offer. | Moving social housing tenants from one council borough to another is nothing new: in 2007, residents reported being offered housing elsewhere. But a three-pronged policy shift has intensified and increased the number and distance of placements: rising rents, the benefits cap, and new powers under the Localism Act 2011. The latter allows councils to offer out-of-borough placements and discharge their duty to house residents if they refuse such an offer. |
| New research released exclusively to the Guardian, by Kate Hardy at the University of Leeds and Tom Gillespie at the University of Sheffield, offers a snapshot of the lives of people in the east London borough of Newham offered placements outside their areas. | New research released exclusively to the Guardian, by Kate Hardy at the University of Leeds and Tom Gillespie at the University of Sheffield, offers a snapshot of the lives of people in the east London borough of Newham offered placements outside their areas. |
| The researchers, working with the Focus E15 housing campaign, conducted interviews and surveys with people leaving council offices and who had been in contact with the housing department in the borough. The research shows precisely how vulnerable those in housing need are. | The researchers, working with the Focus E15 housing campaign, conducted interviews and surveys with people leaving council offices and who had been in contact with the housing department in the borough. The research shows precisely how vulnerable those in housing need are. |
| The findings highlight the extreme vulnerability of the people accessing the housing service, with 22% reporting a disability that affected their housing needs, and 48% a health condition that did so. Of the respondents, 58% said they had been offered accommodation out of the borough and 44% were offered housing outside of London. The flats offered to these households weren’t simply in adjacent boroughs: 16% were offered accommodation in Lancashire, and 13% in the West Midlands. | The findings highlight the extreme vulnerability of the people accessing the housing service, with 22% reporting a disability that affected their housing needs, and 48% a health condition that did so. Of the respondents, 58% said they had been offered accommodation out of the borough and 44% were offered housing outside of London. The flats offered to these households weren’t simply in adjacent boroughs: 16% were offered accommodation in Lancashire, and 13% in the West Midlands. |
| Any move involves upheaval, but moving halfway across the country when you are already likely to be vulnerable causes huge emotional and health problems. One interviewee living in hostel accommodation with her two children said she’d come out in welts, rashes and persistent cold sores due to the stress, but as with several other respondents, avoided seeking help from health professionals for fear of social services becoming involved and removing her children. This fear isn’t unfounded: in 2014 Titina Nzolameso had her children taken into care after refusing an out-of-borough placement, a decision that was quashed by the high court a year later. | Any move involves upheaval, but moving halfway across the country when you are already likely to be vulnerable causes huge emotional and health problems. One interviewee living in hostel accommodation with her two children said she’d come out in welts, rashes and persistent cold sores due to the stress, but as with several other respondents, avoided seeking help from health professionals for fear of social services becoming involved and removing her children. This fear isn’t unfounded: in 2014 Titina Nzolameso had her children taken into care after refusing an out-of-borough placement, a decision that was quashed by the high court a year later. |
| The researchers found women were disproportionately hit by housing problems in the sample they interviewed, comprising 67% of the group. Three quarters of the residents had been evicted: 41% had been evicted two or more times. Housing problems were worsening most people’s health and causing them to become more vulnerable: 89% mentioned worsening mental health, with 66% specifically mentioning depression and 25% suffering from insomnia. Worryingly, 9% reported suicidal feelings – double the average rate of 4.3% among the general population. | The researchers found women were disproportionately hit by housing problems in the sample they interviewed, comprising 67% of the group. Three quarters of the residents had been evicted: 41% had been evicted two or more times. Housing problems were worsening most people’s health and causing them to become more vulnerable: 89% mentioned worsening mental health, with 66% specifically mentioning depression and 25% suffering from insomnia. Worryingly, 9% reported suicidal feelings – double the average rate of 4.3% among the general population. |
| Half of the people interviewed had experienced problems with housing due to changes in benefits brought in during 2013. Ahmed, a 26-year-old in temporary accommodation, told researchers, “I got sanctioned last year. I missed an appointment because of a funeral. I started getting into rent arrears because of that. At that stage I got evicted due to that one sanction. The service charge and interest were massive. There was a two-week period where I literally had nothing. It was difficult, I was trying to budget, but once sanctioned it was too much, really hard.” | Half of the people interviewed had experienced problems with housing due to changes in benefits brought in during 2013. Ahmed, a 26-year-old in temporary accommodation, told researchers, “I got sanctioned last year. I missed an appointment because of a funeral. I started getting into rent arrears because of that. At that stage I got evicted due to that one sanction. The service charge and interest were massive. There was a two-week period where I literally had nothing. It was difficult, I was trying to budget, but once sanctioned it was too much, really hard.” |
| By sanctioning Ahmed once, the government have incurred more costs down the line, instead paying for temporary accommodation when previously Ahmed was renting without any problems. For many moved out of their borough, the move means they lose work and have to claim benefits instead. | By sanctioning Ahmed once, the government have incurred more costs down the line, instead paying for temporary accommodation when previously Ahmed was renting without any problems. For many moved out of their borough, the move means they lose work and have to claim benefits instead. |
| The research recommends several policy measures to improve the prospects and well being of households affected: ending the practice of out-of-borough placements in light of detrimental social, economic and health impacts on affected individuals; undertaking an equalities impact assessment due to the disproportionate effect on women; and that those seeking housing should be advised to bring advocates to meetings with officials. | The research recommends several policy measures to improve the prospects and well being of households affected: ending the practice of out-of-borough placements in light of detrimental social, economic and health impacts on affected individuals; undertaking an equalities impact assessment due to the disproportionate effect on women; and that those seeking housing should be advised to bring advocates to meetings with officials. |
| The report further recommends all meetings between council housing representatives and residents should be audio recorded. It says local authorities should consider people facing eviction automatically as at higher risk of mental health problems, with attendant referrals for services, and that full and immediate counselling should be offered to those approaching the council for help with housing and homelessness. | The report further recommends all meetings between council housing representatives and residents should be audio recorded. It says local authorities should consider people facing eviction automatically as at higher risk of mental health problems, with attendant referrals for services, and that full and immediate counselling should be offered to those approaching the council for help with housing and homelessness. |
| Too often, complaints about the treatment of people facing homelessness, and indeed any service users, are met with grumbles about cost. But for many of the residents interviewed, placing them in temporary accommodation for long periods costs more than supporting people to stay in their homes and avoid eviction. | Too often, complaints about the treatment of people facing homelessness, and indeed any service users, are met with grumbles about cost. But for many of the residents interviewed, placing them in temporary accommodation for long periods costs more than supporting people to stay in their homes and avoid eviction. |
| Allowing people to stay in the borough and in work rather than move elsewhere and be forced into unemployment costs less in the long term. And given the link between poor housing and poor health, it’s clear that investing in housing will improve life expectancy and quality. To do so, both the government, and local authorities have to commit to a more humane and thoughtful housing policy than shunting people around from borough to borough like unwanted units. | Allowing people to stay in the borough and in work rather than move elsewhere and be forced into unemployment costs less in the long term. And given the link between poor housing and poor health, it’s clear that investing in housing will improve life expectancy and quality. To do so, both the government, and local authorities have to commit to a more humane and thoughtful housing policy than shunting people around from borough to borough like unwanted units. |
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