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Monday, 2nd November 2009 Change Date Latest Issue

Number of homeless in B&Bs soars as house crisis deepens

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Published Date: 15 May 2009
By Andrew Picken
THE number of homeless people being put up in bed and breakfasts has risen by nearly a half in two years, new figures have revealed.
Hundreds of households – both single people and couples – are being forced to spend up to seven weeks in temporary accommodation as the city's affordable housing crisis deepens.

Only a handful of people were being placed in B&Bs a decade ago but
the numbers have recently rocketed. Just over 200 homeless people were housed in B&Bs in December 2006, but by December last year this had jumped to 292.

The push towards B&Bs is part of the council's strategy to try and cut down on the number of people sleeping rough ahead of a 2012 Government deadline where it has an obligation to provide a home for everyone in the capital.

Putting people up in Edinburgh's B&Bs costs the council around £2 million a year. It is against the council's homeless policy to place children in B&Bs.

City leaders today said the B&B problem will not be solved until they get extra money to invest in more affordable housing.

Housing pressure groups and opposition politicians warned B&Bs do not provide any solution to homelessness. Graeme Brown, director of housing charity Shelter Scotland, said: "The substantial rise in couples and individuals being temporarily housed in bed and breakfast accommodation is worrying.

"Bed and breakfast deprives people of privacy and is also one of the most expensive forms of temporary accommodation. These figures indicate the increasing pressure on the housing system and the lack of affordable housing in the city.

"Investment in more affordable homes to rent is urgently needed to tackle the housing crisis in Edinburgh and across Scotland."

Other statistics released today show the council is failing to meet its targets on how long people stay at B&Bs. In the year to January, homeless people on the council's books had racked up a total of 18,763 days in B&Bs – 3,963 more than the target.

Gordon Munro, the city's Labour party housing spokesman, said: "The council's own figures show people are staying for too long in these bed and breakfasts.

In addition to the people being put up in B&Bs, there are also around 767 households, including families, in flats and other supported accommodation.

Councillor Paul Edie, the city's housing leader said: "The acute shortage of affordable housing in the city has its greatest impact on the 5,000 households who become homeless each year.

"The city needs 12,000 more homes for people to rent or buy at a price they can afford. At the moment there are more than 320 households staying in B&Bs.

"Whilst we try to keep their time there to a minimum the problem won't ever be solved until we receive investment to build the homes that are needed so desperately."



Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 15 May 2009 10:22 AM
  • Source: Edinburgh Evening News
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Homelessness
 
1

,

15/05/2009 12:35:34
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
2

alfonsa pedrosa,

embra 15/05/2009 12:40:24
There must be plenty room in Wester Hailes or Niddrie for these poor people,or are they not good enough.
3

Mr Fuzzy,

Edinburgh 15/05/2009 13:41:48
The private lets have been rented out to students.
4

ZipptJeffrey,

Castle 15/05/2009 14:25:42
There. Is. No . housing. Crisis!

Its chancers and immigrants who are purposely making themselves homeless and are specifically travelling to edinburgh who have no history with the city. we're talking about economic migrants, backpackers and students who have over stayed their welcome. All types of people who DONT merit housing.

There a LOTS of empty social housing in glasgow. Send them there.
5

elayne,

15/05/2009 14:52:42
#4 agreed!they should bring back the old system,where one was only eligible for housing if one could prove a link to edinburgh,work,close family members living in city etc.too many chancers are taking the ****!!!!!
6

Ritz,

The Kingdom 15/05/2009 15:58:11
#4, I must disagree.. While there must be a small number of people who do act in the manner you describe, there are other factors to take into account. For instance, the fact that neighbouring councils use the abundance of B&Bs in Edinburgh because they are unable to meet their responsibilities as regards homeless people. East Lothian Council, that paragon of virtue in all things local authority related, I know use the B&Bs in Leith this way. IN fact, a psychizophrenic, epileptic gentleman I know, made homeless when his mother diedand the council kicked him out (illegally)spent 13 weeks in this completely unsuitable accommodation. For 2 weeks of this, the B&B in question had the audacity to bed him down on a mattress on the floor due to not having a bed for him (despite there being a bed shop 200 metres away, and the fact that they were taking the full sum from the cooncil for accommodating him). This vulnerable man needed to near his family and friends and had no wish to be in Edinburgh at all.

This is just one case of a disabled person put up in this unsuitable and second rate accommodation; there must be many more. There must also be people escaping violent relationships, have lost their homes due to irresponsible lending (and borrowing, but the bank has the final say)and various other incidents of things happening outwith their control.

B&B accommodation is cack. No cooking facilities, living in one room, no privacy, clothes washing equipment etc...GOing homeless is no picnic.

There aren't enough houses. It's as simple as that. The family unit has changed and far more people live alone. Maggie sold off most of the social housing for buttons, a policy which Labour have been woefully slow to do anything about. Lots of blocks in flats in Niddrie and Wester Hailes are shut down, save for one or two owner occupiers who await the inevitable compulsory purchase order.

You do not sound as though you have ever been in this situation. Well lucky old you. Shou
7

MoiraMac,

15/05/2009 16:02:28
#2 alfonsa pedrosa.

A very large number of homeless people (rough sleepers) have mental health problems/alcohol/drug addicts I understand they require to be housed in the centre of the city and not in Wester Hailes or Niddrie due to their vulnerability or something like that.
8

elayne,

15/05/2009 16:25:30
#6 its sad your friend was put in such an awful position,someone in his predicament should have been made priority for suitable supported housing,not dumped in a b and b!!the council are quick enough to house teen mums,drug addicts etc,and ignore the needs of those who are genuinly disabled,this sort of treatment is scandalous!the b and bs are obviously not checked thoroughly or run to good standards(my friend was in one in early 80s,filthy was an understatement and she suffered a lot of innapropriate behavoiur from some of the male occupants,had stuff stolen,shared a room with an alcoholic woman who peed everywhere etc)
9

MoiraMac,

15/05/2009 16:57:46
#Elayne
Drug addicts and alcoholics are classed as disabled. That is why they receive disability allowance. (loads of dosh) Whether they are housed in a B&B or in a block of flats being checked on every now and then by their care worker they still cause the same problems to people around them. They party all night set their flats on fire pee all over the place and generally cause havoc.
It's time to redefine the term 'homeless' and give appropriate help to those in need. Drug addicts and alcoholics need to be rehabilitated before being considered for a flat.
10

adogcatcherwearsauniformto,

musselburgh 15/05/2009 17:46:44
Dear, #8 and #9. obviously you are able to discern the REAL disabled compared to the others. Perhaps for the rest of us not so skilled or knowledgeable as you, we should consider branding people on their foreheads, maybe you think that placing a barcode on the left forearm would be more up to date?

Eugenics mean anything.
11

Cassandra,

15/05/2009 19:59:08
#9 Moir aMac - you're wrong. Drug and alcohol addicts are NOT, I repeat, NOT classed as disabled. Check the DDA. They only receive disability allowance if they have disabling conditions (AIDS, liver disease, etc.) as a result of their addiction, and some of these conditions must still meet DDA requirements. I advise on access issues,so it's my buisness to know the law.
12

elayne,

15/05/2009 20:17:37
#10 throwing money at addicts is not helpful for them or us tax payers, but more rehab places and better care for those who are recovering from addiction IS needed,no one denys that,but while people are on drugs they should not be given preferential treatment over those who have a disability which is NOT self inflicted!
#9 moira,,i feel drug users should be housed in places where they can be supervised with trained staff,who can meet their needs and help them get off drugs,putting addicts in general needs housing is not fair on those around them,as you say they can often be irresponsible tenants and they,however nice they may seem,are not the kind of neighbours one would want,addicts DO need help and care but putting them into a house with little support is not fair on them or those around them
13

MoiraMac,

16/05/2009 10:29:54
#11 Thanks Cassandra. I didn't know that. So do they receive Jobseekers Allowance? Are they required to be actively seeking employment? What percentage of drug addicts + alcoholics have disabling conditions?

#12 Yes some type of sheltered housing with a supervisor who can step in and stop the fights the parties the endless stream of drunken/drugged visitors and their dogs!

#10 I don't see much point in calling people with serious mental health problems/drug/alcohol addictions
'homeless' this would suggest that the answer to the problem is to provide them with a flat - problem solved.
14

David Settino Scott,

San Francisco, CA 19/05/2009 02:16:55
I have been homeless at several points in my life. Contrary to popular belief, most homeless did not become so out of choice and not because they are lazy, stupid, or immoral. Many homeless people are victims of abuse in the form of neglect and abandonment by their parents or other caregivers. Some of them are simply victims of life’s tragedies, such as hurricanes, fires, or other catastrophes from which they simply don’t have the resources to recover. I invite you to my blog devoted to raising awareness on homelessness: www.freethegods.com. There you will find an article I wrote on homelessness and pictures I have taken of homeless people. I always give them a dollar or two for the privilege of photographing them. I am often surprised by their cheerfulness and sense of pride. Often, they will show themselves to have some kind of talent. There is a fine line between genius and insanity.

 

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