Anthony Okereke’s Post

I want to ask if anyone else is seeing a trend develop where local housing authority’s are turning down people familiys requesting emergency interim accomodation who are homeless. and not providing a written outcomes on how they have come to that decision . As from what I am reading and hearing it’s becoming common practice This is my take on it This is because local authorities are in financial crisis and this is a good way of saving money . As if a person is homeless local authority have to pay persons families accomdation fees so can really impact on a local authoritys housing benefit budget bill If a local authority can gate keep providing accomadtion via private rented avenue then it comes out of Department of works and pensions pot Housing prevention bill and Homless act bill part 7 in a lot of cases is ignored until legal avenues are taken by said homeless person or family It is only then local authoritys once forced to do so are providing emergency interim accommodation . The new housing prevention bill when people familes r being assessed seems 2 ignore part 7 of homeless bill to provide interim emergency accomadation until a decision is made ?

"How society treats its most vulnerable citizens is always the measure of its humanity" Edel Harris OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Mencap stated in November 2020. I couldn't agree more. Yet more horrifying statistics this week in #temporaryaccommodation. The deaths of 741 homeless people in 2021 didn't shock us into action, excess winter deaths of 5,000 during winter 2022 to 2023 didn't mobilise us either. This week ITV news and Justlife Foundation released the terrifying statistics that 55 children - 42 under a year, have died in temporary accommodation. This startling number has resulted in Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities updating guidance to provide accommodation that is suitable for every child under 2 to have their own cot, but there isn't a mechanism or check or enforce. The incredibly tragic death of #Awaab in Rochdale in December 2020 has lead to a change in law, #socialhousingproviders now have a duty to investigate and rectify damp and mould complaints within their properties. For those in PRS accommodation, no requirements exist. To add to the shocking amount of death and despair because it seems this information isn't enough to kick start our humanity, maybe the fact that Shelter and National Housing Federation's research by Cebr has indicated that £51bn could be added to the economy through the delivery of 90k social homes may be more motivational for some? The cost to human life and suffering and that developing Social Homes could add £51bn to the economy hasn't provided the outrage that it should. Maybe it's because only the headlines grab media attention or because those who are most affected are the least likely in society to have an impactful voice or engage in politics because they are too busy try to find a home, keep one or struggling to pay for food and energy. The #BuildSocialHousing campaign by Inside Housing, National Housing Federation and Shelter is calling on all parties to commit to building tens of thousands of social rent homes across the UK in the run up to the #generalelection2024. A great campaign championing within the #socialhousing sector to galvanise and combine our voices with one goal. The #budget2024 yesterday, didn't provide us with much hope, although Keir Starmer did highlight the lack of action on affordable housing in his response. There must be thousands, even millions of people across the UK who aren't part of the sector who are impacted directly or indirectly on a daily basis by the current lack of housing and poor standards. Some colleagues in the sector have decided to try and raise awareness within society - our friends, family, neighbours, to ensure that they ask the politicians when canvassing, what they intend to do to tackle #homelessness, #fuelpoverty, #housingcrisis, etc. Trina Chakravarti Jake Snell Sarah Payling Katie Rudin Gaynor Tennant 🐝 Angela Mansell FCIOB and I will share some actions soon. #ifnotnowwhen #housingsupply

The Ripple Effect: Why Affordable Housing Matters to Everyone Imagine a city brimming with potential. Businesses are booming, there's a vibrant mix of cultures, and a sense of opportunity hangs in the air. But beneath this facade, a silent struggle unfolds. People who keep the city running – teachers, nurses, service workers – can't afford to live there. This is the reality of a community lacking affordable housing. Affordable housing isn't just about putting a roof over someone's head. It's the cornerstone of a thriving society. Here's why it matters to everyone, not just those in immediate need: Empowering our workforce: Teachers can't inspire young minds if they're constantly worried about eviction. Nurses can't give their all if they're commuting for hours. Affordable housing allows our essential workers to live near their jobs, boosting productivity and strengthening the local economy. Building stronger communities: Diverse, inclusive communities are the heart of a healthy society. Affordable housing fosters this by allowing people from all walks of life to live near each other. This leads to a richer cultural exchange, increased social capital, and a stronger sense of community. So, what can we do? The responsibility doesn't lie solely with policymakers. Here are some ways we can all be advocates for affordable housing: Educate yourself and others: Knowledge is power. The more we understand the issue, the better equipped we are to advocate for solutions. Support organizations working towards affordable housing: Many non-profit organizations are on the frontlines of this battle. Lend your voice, volunteer your time, or donate if you're able. I can’t wait for Dream Big Again nonprofit to be fully functional. We will provide housing and workforce development training to young mothers and aged out foster children. Affordable housing isn't a handout, it's an investment. It's an investment in our people, our communities, and our collective future. Let's work together to ensure everyone has a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home. What are your thoughts on the importance of affordable housing? Share your ideas in the comments below! #affordablehousing #community #economicdevelopment #opportunity

Research shows that England alone needs at least 90,000 new social rent homes a year in order to keep up with demand. - UK Parliament Social housing refers to accommodations provided by the government or non-profit organizations at affordable rents for individuals or families in need. Landlords benefit from social housing through: 1. Stable Income: Social housing often comes with guaranteed rental income, as payments are usually made by government agencies or housing associations. 2. Long-Term Tenants: Tenants in social housing tend to stay for longer periods, reducing vacancy rates and turnover costs for landlords. 3. Subsidies and Incentives: Some governments offer subsidies or tax incentives to landlords who provide social housing, making it financially attractive. 4. Community Support: Landlords may receive support from social housing organizations, including property management assistance and maintenance services. Overall, social housing can provide landlords with a stable income stream and various incentives while helping to address housing needs in the community. For enquiries on social housing, send me a DM. #ukproperty

#StartsAtHome, the National Housing Federation's annual campaign to celebrate the value of supported housing, is our chance to celebrate the amazing work supported housing providers do to help more than half a million people to live independently in their communities. Starts at Home Day is taking place on 30th August this year (10 days from now!) but we’re extending the campaign period into the autumn, so you can keep getting involved and raising awareness on, and after, the day itself. This year, we’re using the campaign to call for:  - A commitment to at least 167,000 more supported homes by 2040 to meet supported housing need.   - Ring-fenced funding for housing-related support to be allocated to local authorities in England, to allow local authorities to maintain and commission much-needed supported housing. This will require at least £1.6bn initially, rising to up to £3.4bn a year by 2040.   - A long-term plan for housing that ensures everyone can live as independently as possible, for as long as possible, in a home that meets their needs. This will also help provide appropriate, affordable homes for people to move on from supported housing.   - Every decision about care to be a decision about housing. Local authorities and integrated care boards should be helped to plan for, fund and commission supported housing, to ensure supported housing is part of a strategic plan to meet housing need. This will include data collection at national and local level to understand need and a recommitment to the £300m Housing Transformation Fund.   - Improved and more flexible revenue and grant funding so we can meet the target for 10% of the Affordable Homes Programme to deliver supported housing and develop more housing for older people.  Find out how you can get involved in the campaign in this blog post by Molly Boydon.

Katie Smart, Director of Places for People Scotland, has written an open letter to the new First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, with a simple message: the time for talking is over, it’s time to build homes. “Somewhere to call home is everyone’s right – let’s make that more than a vision. It’s time to build.”    The letter highlights areas where a plan of action is needed urgently.    “There are 32,000 people in Scotland currently homeless with almost 10,000 children without a permanent home and the number of families in temporary accommodation is at its highest ever level and getting worse.”    That isn’t to say there aren’t some signs of progress, but there’s concern they don’t go far enough.    “I’m pleased to see new policies introduced by The Scottish Government in its Housing Bill launched on 26 March to address homelessness. It was also welcome to hear in April, The Scottish Government’s announcement of £80million in funding over two years to buy empty properties for social housing. However, these measures alone will not solve the issue and it was a major blow to the sector in February when a £196m cut in funding for affordable housing was agreed by The Scottish Government.    “The harsh reality is that in Scotland alone, there are 110,000 households on the waiting list for social housing. The list is continuing to grow, with more people priced out of private rented accommodation because demand is huge.“    On how we support Communities that face these issues Katie explains:     “Our social housing Customers, like others across the country, face huge pressures to meet their living needs and deal with complex issues. So, we support Customers where there are no longer services or funding available from other areas of the welfare system, like writing off rent arrears, food and fuel vouchers, access to foodbanks, money and fuel advice, domestic abuse, furniture, support with digital access, employment, training, and wellbeing.”    As for what needs to happen to make a real difference...    “We simply must build homes now.”       Read the full letter to learn more about the benefits of a collaborative approach to solving our current housing emergency: https://lnkd.in/e5e-3c_h    #BecauseCommunityMatters #WeAreCommunity #UKHousing  

🏠 The shortage of affordable homes in England is reaching crisis levels, with a potential shortfall equivalent to the size of Leeds looming. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation highlights a grave situation where supply drastically lags behind demand, leaving families like Dawn and Adrian's in temporary accommodation and battling mental health issues. 🏘️ Since 2011, there has been a gap of 30,000 affordable homes annually, and this could escalate to a staggering 335,000 by the end of the current parliament. 💰 Despite the government's £9bn investment in the sector, many families like Dawn and Adrian's continue to endure hardships and emotional tolls due to the lack of suitable housing options. 🔍 The human side of this crisis is starkly illustrated by real stories like Dawn and Adrian's, shedding light on the profound impact of the housing shortage on mental well-being and family dynamics. 🛠️ How do we address this growing crisis and support families in dire need of stable housing? Share your thoughts and experiences on this pressing issue facing many in our society. https://lnkd.in/e_-sSbyv

We believe that to create a brighter future the Chancellor should make long-term decisions to improve the supply of affordable housing.   A long-term plan for housing will not only support housing charities like us to build more social housing, it’s good politics too. Lord Best cites our recent research which showed that more than half of all voters, and almost two thirds of 18- to 34-year-olds, say they’re more likely to support a political party which invests more in affordable and social housing.   Our poll also revealed that more than two fifths of younger households have postponed life decisions, such as starting a family, because of housing uncertainty.   The Spring Budget is an opportunity to give a dramatic boost to the supply of affordable housing, make a real difference to today’s housing crisis, and would be very popular with the wider electorate.   #UKHousing #SpringBudget #SocialHousing #AffordableHousing  Politics.co.uk

“A recent study in Seattle found that help navigating the housing search not only increased how often families were able to use their vouchers, but increased the share of families who moved to more affluent neighborhoods from 15% to 53%. Like Boston, Seattle also relied on outside organizations to fill that need.” This is where Housing Connector started: knowing that vouchers were being underutilized because of resident barriers prohibiting approval upon application. Since that time, Seattle has passed policies preventing voucher denial, and Housing Connector has helped facilitate thousands of successful move-ins (for families with and without vouchers) through our housing access solution. We are built to scale, and have grown to assist residents and properties to make good use of these and other federal programs in 4 states over the last 5 years while also boosting long term housing placement and ongoing stability for non voucher holding families as well. If you want to see a solution like ours strengthen the systems at work in your community, we’d love to connect. Our approach is simple: Housing solutions, utilizing current systems and inventory, infused with technology efficiencies. Over 7,200 people have achieved long term housing as a result, and 99.4% of them divert eviction. A systems wide approach makes housing for all possible. #housing #housingcrisis #HousingCrisisSolution #Housingvouchers #tileveryonehasahome #houselessnesssolutions #TechnologyPowered #nonprofit #systemschange #opendoors #accessibility #ImpactingLives https://lnkd.in/gHjV9Ug9

A stark warning from London Councils on the implications of the costs of temporary accomodation and the “devastating impact on individuals and families”. Keep banging the drum Darren Rodwell £90 million monthly spending on homelessness accommodation ‘threatens to bankrupt boroughs’ New data from London Councils reveals that boroughs’ monthly spending on temporary accommodation for homeless households grew by almost 40% last year – reaching £90 million a month. Skyrocketing rates of homelessness and a severe shortage of affordable accommodation have put major strain on boroughs’ budgets, with London Councils labelling this a “critical danger” to their financial stability. Ahead of next week’s Budget, London Councils is calling for more government support to help councils meet these costs and reduce the risk of requiring a Section 114 notice – effectively declaring bankruptcy. London Councils’ Executive Member for Regeneration, Housing & Planning, Cllr Darren Rodwell, said: “Homelessness has a devastating impact on individuals and families, while also bringing massive and unsustainable costs to boroughs’ budgets. “Boroughs work hard to house homeless Londoners. However, London’s ballooning temporary accommodation bill is a critical danger to boroughs’ financial stability. If things go on the way they are, it’s no exaggeration to say these enormous costs pose a bankruptcy risk. “We’re urging ministers to boost funding support for boroughs grappling with a worsening homelessness crisis. Ending the unfair cap on housing benefit subsidy rates for temporary accommodation would relieve much of the pressure on boroughs’ resources, helping us balance the books while providing homelessness support to everyone who needs it.”