Increase in people and families threatened with homelessness

The impact of the cost-of-living crisis has seen an increase in the number of people and families being helped after being threatened with homelessness in West Suffolk.

Over the past 12 months, West Suffolk Council has invested more than £1.2 million to improve existing temporary accommodation and increase the overall amount it can access.

In the six months from April 1 to September 30 this year, the housing team at West Suffolk Council has intervened to prevent 77 households from becoming homeless. Another 90 households who became homeless have since been rehoused.

And the council is continuing to work with and help another 148 households including some who are currently living in temporary or emergency accommodation.

Numbers have increased compared to the same six months last year when the council helped prevent 47 households from becoming homeless, “relieved” 90 households out of homelessness and were continuing to work with and help another 141 households.

Across the whole of last year from April 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023, the council prevented 117 households from becoming homeless, “relieved” another 220 out of homelessness and was continuing to work with 263 other households.

Richard O’Driscoll, cabinet member for Housing at West Suffolk Council said: “The cost-of-living-crisis with interest rate rises on mortgages and the knock-on effect to rents, coupled with inflated costs for some of the basic things we all need such as food, has all had a significant impact on households.

“People have struggled to keep up with their rent or mortgages, and sadly that has seen more people in need of our help. The numbers effected include many people in work as well as those dependent on benefits.

“Wherever we can, we will always try to prevent people, whether it’s an individual, a couple or a family, from losing their home. Where that does happen, we have sufficient temporary and emergency bed and breakfast accommodation in place.

“We are continuing to invest not just in delivering more temporary accommodation, but also improving the living conditions inside. We recognise that it’s a difficult and stressful enough time as it is for people when they have to turn to us for that help. The least we can do is try to make their stay, however temporary it is, as good as it can possibly be while we help them secure a new home to live.”

In recent years the council has also invested in specialist support and accommodation to help reduce the number of people who are street homeless – termed “rough sleepers” by the government.

The number of people rough sleeping in West Suffolk on September 30 this year was four although this figure can fluctuate from day to day as people accept or lose their accommodation. It compares to 36 rough sleepers in 2018 when the council first formed its Rough Sleeper Support Service. Many of those previously housed continue to be supported by the council to try to prevent future homelessness.

Of the four people rough sleeping on September 30, two have previously been supported and accommodated. The council continues to do all that we can to encourage those who are still rough sleeping in West Suffolk to take up the support and accommodation available.

Councillor O’Driscoll said: “If people see or suspect someone is sleeping rough, the quickest way to report it to the council’s rough sleeper service is using StreetLink www.thestreetlink.org.uk. Our service then gets an alert and they will go and speak to the person (if they aren’t already) to try to get them the help that they need.”

People can also donate to Bury Drop In’s Looking for Change campaign which challenges people to think about the reasons why they give – and instead of giving money to people in the street, give to the charity instead. This is because many of the people seen during the day on the streets are already accommodated and getting help. There is a risk that if donations are given directly to individuals it may encourage addictions or anti-social behaviour that puts their accommodation at risk.

Money donated to Looking for Change is used to help people who have previously been rough sleeping, who have subsequently stayed in temporary accommodation while they got support for any mental health or addiction issues that they may have, and who are ready to move into more settled and permanent accommodation.

In Bury St Edmunds, people can support the campaign through a text by typing BSE followed by the amount (so for £5 type BSE5) and send to 70085. You can also donate online at https://burydropin.echoleft.com/fundraising/bury-looking-for-change/donate

In Newmarket, the campaign was launched by the Newmarket InterFaith Forum and Bury Drop In. People can support the campaign through a text by typing NKT followed by the amount (so for £5 type NKT5) and send to 70085. You can also donate online at https://echoleft.com/fundraising/newmarket-looking-for-change/donate