Temporary housing demand in Bristol soars
The number of people in temporary housing in the city has nearly doubled in the space of four years
More than 1,300 Bristol residents are staying in temporary housing as demand after the pandemic soars. The number has increased by 87 per cent over the past four years, with Bristol City Council now relying on expensive options like placing people in hotels.
Homelessness levels in Bristol have been rising since the cost of living crisis and the end of an eviction ban during the pandemic. The council plans to invest in providing more supported housing for homeless people, and spend less on expensive accommodation.
Last month cabinet papers showed the council plans to spend almost £1 million this year on placing homeless people in hotels. Councillors heard an update on temporary housing, during a meeting of the resources scrutiny commission on Friday, December 15.
John Smith, executive director for growth and regeneration, said: “We have approximately 1,300 residents in temporary accommodation at the moment. It’s increased by 87 per cent since the start of the pandemic.”
The government gives the council a subsidy for temporary housing, but this doesn’t cover what the council actually needs to pay in rent. This means that temporary housing is costing the council about £11 million each year.
As well as temporary housing, council bosses are focusing on three other areas to try and get a hold of their ballooning budgets. Adult social care, children’s social care and special needs education is costing an ever-increasing chunk of the budget.
Denise Murray, director of finance, said: “Children and education, adults and housing currently represent 80 per cent of our net service budget, and growing. If we don’t transform and we don’t make really radical decisions in some areas, we will be in danger of being an authority that only delivers those areas over the next few years.
“The transformation work that is underway can be very quickly outstripped by demand and market prices. The evidence in some areas shows we haven’t had improved outcomes, we’ve just been spending more. We don’t have the skills and capability to appropriately negotiate.”