Changed pattern but frustration persists.
On one day this week THREE homeless people came to our Redhill bureau without an appointment.
Their situations were different but they shared a level of anxiety and frustration that showed again why new policies are urgently needed.
Only one was ‘street homeless’, sleeping rough or at risk of sleeping rough. The others were getting support from housing departments but had problems with their current temporary accommodation. In truth, they probably had unrealistic expectations of finding social housing more suited to their needs.
These clients represent a change in the pattern of bureau clients.
Until early this year we saw (too) many single people – young men particularly – sleeping rough or in tents. To its credit, however, Reigate & Banstead BC moved to deal with this. They invested in initiatives such as East Surrey Outreach Service which offers immediate help to anyone in this situation.
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Note
The treatment of homelessness is changing. In April this year the Homelessness Reduction Act which Citizens Advice supported received the Royal Assent. The Act provides important new duties on local authorities as to how they treat homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless. No date has yet been set for the Act to come into force. It is likely to be 2018 allowing time for guidance to be written and local authorities to prepare.