Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet received its annual housing strategy monitoring report 10 days ago.
Having been promised progress reports and refreshed action plans last year, I welcome this – and it’s great to see that improving housing quality, safety and sustainability remains a central priority.
There are mounting pressures – from the homes we will temporarily lose through the redevelopment of the eight tower blocks built with large panel systems (LPS) to the growing backlog in repairs.
Last September, we were told that two contractors were appointed to help clear the backlog of routine repairs by the end of the past financial year.
That milestone has now shifted to December this year. Clarity is needed: was the delay due to contractor performance or was the complexity of the work underestimated?
We must also continue investing in our ageing housing stock to prevent further disrepair. Short-term interventions – like targeted maintenance and proactive inspections – can make a real difference.
It’s encouraging to see the council preparing to meet the requirements of Awaab’s Law, dealing with damp and mould in rented homes. A new protocol is due by October. Prioritising this is absolutely the right call.
While the administration celebrates progress in building new social housing, we must also acknowledge the growing number of residents in temporary accommodation and rough sleeping.
The number of rough sleepers rose from 52 to 76 from November 2023 to November 2024 – a 46 per cent increase.
While we haven’t reduced our reliance on temporary housing – 1,970 households at the end of March this year – we’ve avoided the steeper increases seen in comparable authorities. That’s important context but it’s not enough.
I welcome the emphasis on homelessness prevention and the intention to encourage earlier engagement. But how are we letting people know? Vulnerable individuals are unlikely to be reading council press releases.
Could we take inspiration from campaigns like DadPad or Ask for Angela? Posters in shop windows, pubs, public toilets? Laflets in food banks, GP surgeries and community centres? Let’s make this information visible, accessible and memorable.
As demand for temporary accommodation continues to put strain on council budgets, I urge the cabinet to explore expanding buy-back schemes to provide more council-owned temporary housing.
Investing in quality, permanent solutions could reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes for those in need. It was great to see what was achieved for Afghan families though this kind of approach.
On promoting health and wellbeing, while this makes for a strong headline, we are still falling short.
The tragic deaths of two homeless men placed in emergency housing in Eastbourne highlight the risks of placing vulnerable people far from their support networks. A strategy that sends people “out of sight, out of mind” is not acceptable.
Finally, capacity is an issue within the council’s housing department. We heard earlier this month that housing officers are burnt out – experiencing sympathy fatigue.
This affects not only staff wellbeing but also the vulnerable individuals they support.
The rollout of trauma-informed practice, with 12 reflective practitioners now trained, is a positive step. But we must go further.
We must embed compassion and dignity into every part of our housing service – so that fewer people are left “feeling worthless” as quoted by the BBC of one couple’s experience.
Let’s commit to a housing strategy that is not only ambitious but humane, responsive and rooted in the lived experiences of our residents.
Ellen McLeay is a Green councillor and represents West Hill and North Laine ward on Brighton and Hove City Council.
It’s a shame that Worthing council can’t be as ambitious as this as I have less than 4 weeks until I am forcibly removed from my flat and I have diabetes, dementia and a history of cancer, chronic depression and learning difficulties.
I appreciate the call for focus on housing. This was a balanced piece. From what I’ve been reading, the main driver of homelessness in Brighton and the wider South East is the chronic shortage of genuinely affordable housing, compounded by high private rental costs, benefit shortfalls, and service pressures. Combined with limited space for growth and a gap in community-based delivery partners, there’s a challenge that I agree is an important one.
Good morning young lady! We have many empty buildings here in Brighton,just for insurance payouts! Many of those have empty homes above them,which would give most people on the street,an a large percentage of people on council waiting lists,a needed home,maybe? You also mention AWWABS law,created after the sad death of the young (TWO (2)YEARS of age!!!) boy it is named after! If nothing else,it finally show’s the public,that the local councils,(who are SUPPOSED to work for the people,an local communities,apparently?),are now accountable for their neglect,ignorance,incompetence,an other such behavioral patterns,that many Brighton tenants are used to!
We waiting over a decade,for our roof to be replaced,because it was so damaged,they replaced the rotten mouldy timbers,an slates,did not cap the building,not any flashing,pointing,rending,neither was guttering replaced! We are still existing with the damp an mould,over a decade later,sadly! We also reported some RSJ’s rusting away,TEN (10) years ago,EIGHTEEN (18) surveyors,or at least that is who they said they were,as we were never informed of their arrival,we explained to each of them,that some WAXOIL,or other antirust should be used to cover them,or even some tempory foam,they said no,leave it to us,we are going to do it,do not touch them!
NOW,i am being forced to leave my home (if i do not leave voluntarily,they will get an injunction against me,to get me out?),for a minimum of two (2) weeks,the time it will take to do the required repairs,APPARENTLY, for my own health an safety,which is obviously a blatant lie,having waited TEN (10?) YEARS,for them to do the works that will prevent this building from collapsing,PLUS,they are still ignoring the damp an mould,caused by water ingress down the two (2) stacks north an south on this building,which still have not been repaired!
Just a few of the problems brighton council housing people have created with their neglect an incompetance,concerning this building,an its tenants for years,our health an safety,has never been any concern for them,as is proven!
Skuze,tried not to bore you,too much,we are in process/s of being ignored (they have not communicated with us for years?) ,as per,writing to various departments,with queries an complaints,to no avail,trying a councilor next?
You also mention a couple of Afgani’s being housed,did you know tha the british miltary sneaked in SEVEN (750,000!) HUNDRED,an FIFTY THOUSAND,Afgani,who worked for them?
APPARENTLY,they were all housed rather quickly,before the media found out?
Will shut up,an go bore someone else!
Yes,we do vote for you people!
Keep cool,stay safe,anavFUN!
Good morning! We had commented on this article,last week,there is a sentence above it,awaiting moderation?
IF,you do not want to,or have no intention of printing it,we have no problem with you deleting it,as you may be under certain restrictions,which deny you the possibilitie/s to print truthful articles which concern government bodies?
At least with AWAABS law being created,ALL council’s are now to be held accountable for their continual denial of legal rights for their tenants!!!
BHCC being at the upper part of the RSH JUDGEMENT (09/08/2024!) list,they are at present in a panic stage to cover themselves,with the usual excuses,quoting from the old manual they are trained from,how to fob off council tenants,especially,people with limited English language understanding/s,disabled pensioners,an or anyone else they consider is vulnerable enough to be attacked,an denied legal rights,safely,for them?
SAD,that is how this present system is run,operation,profits,not people,mericanisation?
Stay safe,MANY more problems arriving,soon,for dollar,pound,an all of the western doctrines!