The rough sleeper crisis in Brighton and Hove has become the focus of a party political battle.
Conservative councillor Robert Nemeth has criticised the Labour-led council for its “demoralising” response to questions about the crisis.
But Labour has hit back, blaming the crisis on Conservative government policies.
Councillor Nemeth has asked for a motion to be debated at a Brighton and Hove City Council committee meeting on Monday (3 December).
He wants to know how many rough sleepers are currently on the streets of Brighton and Hove – and details of how the council plans to provide support for them this winter.
According to the official count, the number has increased from 78 in 2015 to 178 in 2017, the second highest number of rough sleepers in any council area in the country.
Councillor Nemeth also wants an emergency report to spell out the options on ways to work to tackle rough sleeping on a cross-party basis.
When the council’s Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee meets on Monday, the Wish ward councillor plans to push for a more focused approach to tackling the crisis.
And he will urge the council to give responsibility for rough sleeping to the council’s Housing and New Homes Committee. Responsibility is currently shared, he said, between three committees – the Housing and New Homes Committee, the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee and the Health and Wellbeing Board.
Councillor Nemeth said: “The motion sets out a series of concerns about the administration’s handling of the rough sleeping situation – not least the demoralising response that opposition parties received from the administration when questioning the latest figures.
“As one of the three councillors behind the Brighton Centre Night Shelter Project, I have seen how small teams can be both imaginative and effective.
“I promote the involvement of smaller organisations rather than just the large corporate bodies. I champion community involvement – not just from when somebody becomes a rough sleeper but from day one.
“I support cross-party working. Many experts are being shut out needlessly. I believe in accountability and worry that responsibility is spread too thinly across various bodies at the council.
“I do have a long list of policy ideas of my own but I’m not calling for my plan to be adopted. Rather, I’m saying change the model and see what ideas flow from those who know best.”
Councillor Clare Moonan, Labour’s lead member for rough sleepers, belongs to all three committees mentioned by Councillor Nemeth.
She said that she disappointed that Councillor Nemeth had brought forward his motion, adding: “He knows all about the excellent work that is happening across the city, by the council, our partners and the public.
“Many dedicated people are succeeding in making a real difference and this is just a slap in their face.
“His government has created the national homelessness crisis we are enduring and, because of austerity and rent prices, people are losing their home every day in this city.
“Yet we support more rough sleepers than ever off the street and the number is coming down rapidly.
“Brighton and Hove City Council is part of the solution and I am proud of the work we are doing.”
So far, the winter night shelter has opened again at the Brighton Centre, along with the rough sleepers hub and emergency shelter at First Base in Montpelier Place.
The rough sleepers hub for 17 people has £495,000 funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government plus £125,000 from the council.
This year the severe weather emergency provision (SWEP) budget has almost doubled from £40,000 to £70,000.
The criteria has also changed as now rough sleepers will be able to stay in the emergency shelters after one night of freezing weather or “feels like” freezing temperatures compared with two or three nights of freezing temperatures in previous years.
The council’s overall budget for homeless services in the current financial year is £5.4 million.
It pays for
- 551 units of supported housing for homeless adults and people with mental health needs
- 149 units of accommodation for young people and young families
- outreach to rough sleepers
- rough sleeper day centre and severe weather provision
- homeless prevention and family mediation to young people
- financial advice and money handling services
- floating support to people in independent accommodation to help them settle into a tenancy – and crisis intervention to prevent eviction
- floating support to homeless young people in emergency accommodation or independent tenancies to prevent homelessness
- literacy, numeracy and IT skills teaching for homeless adults
- clinical psychology to support staff and service users in high support accommodation
- work and learning support for rough sleepers and those in supported accommodation
- peer support for rough sleepers and those in supported accommodation
The Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equalities Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall on Monday (3 December). The meeting starts at 4pm and is open to the public.
Pricing people onto the streets IS the bottom line of what has happened throughout the developed world. The failure of Govts to effectively regulate Capitalism means that golden goose of opportunity is not going to survive for much longer.
There are simply too many victims now; and the diminishing spending power of the public results in starvation of the economy – loss of the fuel it needs to keep moving in a healthy way – which does not necessarily mean endless growth btw. Circulation is what is needed – not hoarding by the 1% or obscene levels of pay to entertainers, financial gamblers, failing management types, etc
There are lots of empty buildings in the not as nice areas outside Brighton and hove. We should relocate the homeless and poor here. Plenty of room and keeps the city looking good for the residents who own houses here.
too much money is spent on affordable housing for people with not very good jobs/income and not enough of developing the city. People who are poor or homeless should not come to a city that is for affluent people. simple
The homeless are all on spice and drunk. They should be made to work 9-5 and in return get a bed for the night. The same for people who say the need affordable housing – if you cant afford a house – get a better job (£80k+ in London an commute) or move to a cheap poor area…