'Disgrace' of homeless being housed in B&Bs
THE region's two councils have admitted housing homeless families in bed and breakfast accommodation beyond the current legal limit.
Under legislation, councils are only allowed to place adults and children in B&Bs for a maximum of six weeks.
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ROOM IN THE BUDGET: East Riding Council spent up to £861 on providing B&B accommodation for a single family.
But a new study has revealed that both Hull City Council and East Riding Council were among 125 authorities across England to have placed people in hotel rooms for six weeks or more since April 2010.
Guest houses and B&B hotels are meant to be a short-term solution while homeless families and individuals wait for council accommodation.
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Decisions by local authorities to extend their stay beyond the six-week limit are subject to potential challenge through judicial reviews.
The study also showed the highest weekly spend on providing B&B accommodation for a single family by East Riding Council since early 2010 had been £861.
The highest equivalent spend in Hull was £336.
The survey was compiled by the Labour Party through Freedom of Information requests to every council in the country.
Overall, it found the use of temporary B&B accommodation beyond the six-week limit has risen by 800 per cent since this Government came into power.
Jack Dromey, Labour's shadow housing minister, said: "It is an absolute disgrace that on this Government's watch the number of families with children and pregnant women living in bed and breakfasts for months on end has soared.
"The Government's housing and economic policies are failing and families with children are paying the price.
"Affordable house building has collapsed, rents are soaring and their ill-thought-through benefit changes are driving up homelessness.
"However, the Government's policies are not just causing desperate hardship for those affected, they are costing taxpayers millions of pounds every week."
A recent report published by Hull City Council showed the average length of stay for families it placed in B&Bs last year was seven days at an average cost of £40 per night.
The average for expectant families was ten days while the average stay for a single young person was 4.2 days.
The report also showed twice as many homeless young single women were placed in B&Bs than young males.
Overall, the council spent just under £63,000 housing individuals and families in B&Bs and guest houses last year.
Laura Carr, the council's housing manager, said: "Bed and breakfast accommodation is only used as emergency provision, with families and vulnerable people being moved on to more appropriate accommodation as soon as possible."
9 Comments
by McLafferty
Thursday, February 21 2013, 3:14PM
“What a waste of money! Maybe I should become homeless for a week, have a nice break and have someone cook me a full English each day-bliss.”
by kwright
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 6:28PM
“why not use the two wings at hull prison that have shut as beds for the homeless ,not talking about locking them up ,just using them as some where warm to sleep in”
by RobTenerife
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 5:54PM
“Suggest they use Travelodge, Premier inn, Ibis or similar they charge £59.00 or less per room per night. Why are the council paying for these families breakfast they certainly don't pay for mine.”
by allwaysred1
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 3:39PM
“VicMay, The study also showed the highest weekly spend on providing B&B accommodation for a single family by East Riding Council since early 2010 had been £861.., I Dont recall stating it was £860 a night. You should have gone to spec savers.”
by VicMay
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 1:07PM
“Oh I get you, ERYC, sorry... what is doesnt say is for how long, it could have been ages.”
by VicMay
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 1:06PM
“@alwaysred it says "A recent report published by Hull City Council showed the average length of stay for families it placed in B&Bs last year was seven days at an average cost of £40 per night."
not £840. Even for the seven days stated that's £280. The £63,000 bill for the year would refurb two, maybe three properties. There's a lot more becoming homeless than that, and I fear it will escalate under the raft of welfare reforms families are about to be hit with.”
by allwaysred1
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:49PM
“£860 A week B&B...where are they sending them!!!!!The council should plough all that money on new builds.Or refurbishment of empty homes.To house them.”
by VicMay
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:17PM
“The thin end of a steep wedge when the Bedroom Tax kicks in. Then we have the council tax that's going to be charged to people on benefits. Then just to finish them off, Universal Credit will kick in. Add to the fact that the Tory and Lib Dem Government have completely ignored housing and not produced so much as a green paper, when there's a growing housing crisis nationally, smacks of sheer ignorance about the way things work. Absolutely scandalous.”
by kittyuk
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 12:14PM
“Too may people flooding into the country = not enough houses for local people!”