Housing emergency in Crawley
Crawley Council could declare housing emergency
A motion to declare a housing emergency in Crawley will go before councillors this week.
Crawley Borough Council have said the proposed declaration is due to unprecedented temporary accommodation demands facing the town.
The notice of motion will be debated at the Full Council meeting on Wednesday 21 February.
Councillor Michael Jones, Leader of the Council, will be moving the motion, seconded by the Cabinet member for Housing, Councillor Ian Irvine.
The council have said the level of demand is outstripping the supply of available units, both in terms of temporary accommodation, but also more permanent accommodation.
It added its annual costs for temporary accommodation have risen twelve-fold in the past five years to £5.7m.
As of the 6 February 2024, the council have said:
- 2,796 applications made for the 243 housing units made available in the last eight months – more than 11 applicants per property
- 485 households, or 1,224 people, are living in temporary accommodation
'Increasingly unsustainable temporary accommodation'
Councillor Michael Jones said:
"We urgently need help to deal with these pressures and call on the government to increase the Housing Benefit subsidy rate, which is currently frozen at 2011 levels.
"The cost of temporary accommodation has increased hugely since then".
By declaring a housing emergency, the council said they would be seeking to draw attention to the situation, to explain to residents (especially those with acute housing needs) why the situation has arisen, and to seek greater support and action from government.
The council said a number of factors are driving increasingly unsustainable temporary accommodation costs, including:
- the unaffordability of home ownership for an increasing number of people
- a shrinking private rented sector with soaring rentsÂ
- the shortage of council and other social housing to meet demand
- the presence of four asylum contingency hotels in the town
It said this is despite it's best efforts and having "one of the best records in the country developing social housing and delivering affordable homes".
The government said Crawley would get £2m between 2023 and 2025 through its Homelessness Prevention Grant.
Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Felicity Buchan, said:
"We are determined to end rough sleeping for good and are working hand-in-hand with the homelessness sector and other partners to make sure people have a roof over their head and the support to rebuild their lives.
"We have given councils £2 billion to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.
"Through our Rough Sleeping Strategy we will continue to work to end rough sleeping completely".