St Albans District Council admits long waits for housing (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)
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St Albans District Council admits long waits for housing
11:57am Tuesday 26th January 2010 in Columnists
HOUSING officers at the district council have declined to comment on the case of a single mother forced to share her mother's lounge with her baby after 14 months of waiting.
Deonne Smith, 21, of Davys Close, Wheathampstead, spoke to the Review of her desperation for somehere to live with seven-month old Riley, claiming she was told she would not get a flat because of a personal bankruptcy.
The council has said it can not comment on individual cases, but strategy manager Linda Middleton said: “The number of people who apply for housing far exceeds the volume of accommodation that becomes available.
"We currently have 2,235 people on our waiting list and yet last year we were only able to offer 222 council homes and 82 housing association homes in the district.
"There is a lengthy wait for rehousing and anyone who is in need should apply to join the housing register.
"An assessment of their personal circumstances will then be made, including the suitability of their current accommodation.
"We try to use our limited resources as best we can by allocating housing accommodation according to an applicant’s housing need.
"People are usually offered temporary accommodation if they are homeless and in priority need, while a homelessness investigation is undertaken. If they are then found to be homeless, in priority need and not intentionally homeless they will be rehoused.”
Comments(7)
Roma Mills
says...
11:53am Wed 27 Jan 10
Sid Preston
says...
2:18pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Rather than raising issues about the personal responsibility of the young mum
No that's exactly what we should be doing. Some of these young mothers and absent fathers should realise there's a consequence to their actions and should not always expect councils and state benefit to continually fund their lifestyles.
Mr.B
says...
6:16pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Scrap this ridiculous law that gives these stupid girls council flats once pregnant.
If you can't afford a kid, dont have one. It's as simple as that.
In Spain and France they dont house young mums or new immigrants, there would be uproar if they did. Why in this country are we such a soft touch on those that dont want to contribute anything??
Mr.B
says...
6:19pm Thu 28 Jan 10
Maybe if the government stopped letting everyone into our country, then there would be room for all of us. (I think I speak for 99.9% of people that were born in this country)
Perhaps you could pass that onto your cronies?
BillyBatford
says...
7:21am Fri 29 Jan 10
Typical - any mention of responsibility Labour runs a mile.
This is one reason why you won't be the government Roma, come the summer, because like your party, you seem unable to accept that there is a need responsibility in these matters, be it personal, political or moral.
Bob S.
says...
12:05pm Fri 29 Jan 10
I'm not sure which Lib Dem councillor this is - as this paper never seems to ask questions of them.
BillyBatford says...
12:23pm Tue 26 Jan 10
Firstly, why did the person concerned get pregnant in the first place?
What is the father of the child, and his family, doing to help the situation for his child/grandchild?
How is it that the person concerned - aged 21- became Bankrupt at such an early age?
Given that everyone knows there is a massive shortage of rented housing, why did those concerned not take this into consideration earlier?
It is entirely appropriate that the housing officers decline to comment on a individual case like this.