East Cambridgeshire District Council

With more and more people finding themselves in financial difficulties and worrying about keeping a roof over their head, East Cambridgeshire District Council has reviewed its Housing Service to better meet the needs of its residents.

At a meeting of the Development and Transport sub-committee, Councillors heard how a number of factors are creating pressure in the housing system. These range from families on benefits finding it hard to find private sector housing to the weak house building economy as well as the overheating rental market in the region or people fleeing domestic violence.

In 2010, the Council received over 1700 requests for help, re-housed over 200 families, supported 26 families threatened by domestic violence and delivered 147 new affordable housing units.

In order to meet the growing pressure and fulfil the Council’s statutory role to enable all residents in East Cambridgeshire to have access to housing suitable for their needs, the following changes are planned:

*    Employ a new Housing Advisor to help residents in need of urgent help and allow the existing team to continue to intervene before people become homeless
*    Make permanent the role of the Development and Enabling Officer, who works with parish councils and others to develop new affordable housing
*    Closer partnership work with public, private and voluntary organisations to better utilise resources. Sharing services with other authorities will not be taken up at present but is not ruled out for the future.
*    Continue to work closely with Sanctuary Housing as they move staff to the offices of East Cambridgeshire District Council this year to provide a better all round service.
*    Provide better education about the role of Housing Services and the help available through roadshows and events
*    Encourage the local construction industry to build more affordable homes through making greater funds available through the Housing Growth Fund

Councillor James Palmer, Deputy Leader at East Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Our review of our housing service has found a hard working, dedicated team which is ‘punching well above its weight and is highly respected by partners and others’. However this team faces real challenges over the next couple of years as we predict the number of people coming to us for help will grow as financial hardships bite.

“There are many factors which have brought about this situation – some unique to East Cambridgeshire and others a sign that homelessness is becoming an issue for authorities across the country. For example, people on benefits are facing a desperate struggle to find private rental accommodation while the ripple effect caused by the overheating renting market in Cambridge is forcing those who cannot afford rents in the city to go to other areas. We also have the sadly real impact of families and relationships breaking up as a result of the tough financial situation many people are facing.

“These are not issues we can tackle as an authority by ourselves but by putting in the right resources at the right time and working in partnership with the voluntary sector, other local organisations and housing associations we can and will make a difference. For example, by being proactive and intervening before people have lost their homes, we can save a lot of heartache, stress and in purely financial terms – council tax payers money.

“What has been pleasing in East Cambridgeshire is how we have all worked together to tackle this issue across the political divide and with the private and voluntary sector. This I am sure, will be the blueprint for how local government will deal with issues in the future and I am glad to see our district is yet again leading the way.”