Homelessness expert labels hotel block booking a ‘sticking plaster’

A homelessness expert has characterized the five-year block booking of an entire hotel for temporary accommodation as a “sticking plaster”. Earlier this year, Milton Keynes City Council entered into a contract to utilize all 140 rooms at the Harben House Hotel, located in Newport Pagnell. John Chesters, chairman of the Milton Keynes Homelessness Partnership, stated that this initiative was “not going to solve anything” and emphasized the necessity for additional social housing. Pete Marland, the council leader, asserted that employing the hotel would result in cost savings for the local authority and “provide a better service”. Mr. Chesters commented that while the provision of temporary housing was “good, but it’s not going to solve anything”. He further explained that the enduring resolution involved “proper housing”, stating: “Let’s move away from this term ‘affordable’. “Let’s get some truly affordable, some social accommodation that people can move into because rents are sky high – cost of housing is sky high.” Kelly, 46, shared that she relocated to the hotel after the conclusion of a relationship led to her experiencing homelessness for the first time. She described feeling “very overwhelmed and scared” by the circumstances, but noted that the assistance from other hotel residents had “helped get through the anxiety”. Each month, an average of 225 individuals in Milton Keynes report being homeless, and the council anticipates allocating approximately £19m to temporary accommodation during the current financial year. The council indicated that roughly 85% of short-term accommodation is secured nightly in various locations such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, or flats. Marland, who is the Labour leader of the city council, pointed out the irony that “renting out an entire hotel for five years is cheaper than putting people in single rooms overnight”. He explained that the block booking arrangement for the hotel ensured residents received a “better service” due to the ability to station support workers and housing officers on-site. He added, “[We are] one of the biggest council house builders in the country but unfortunately we can’t build them at the rate the demand is going up.” Guests are permitted a maximum stay of 90 days at the hotel while arrangements for more permanent housing are being made. The sole cooking amenities available are air fryers and microwaves located in the hotel’s bar area. The initial occupants, comprising single individuals, couples, and single parents with children, began moving in on September 23. An unnamed mother residing at the hotel with her nine-month-old baby informed the BBC that her relocation had been “tough” and that she had initially opposed the concept. She further stated that she had since reconsidered and received assistance. Milton Keynes Council’s situation is not unique. The Local Government Association (LGA) reports that council budgets nationwide are experiencing “enormous strain” due to the escalating expenses associated with providing temporary accommodation. A survey conducted by the Politics East programme revealed that South Norfolk Council anticipates spending £800,000 on temporary housing this year, significantly exceeding its initial budget of £300,000. North Hertfordshire Council has already exceeded its budget by £73,000, and Chelmsford City Council projects an expenditure of £2.7m beyond its allocated funds. Consequently, all authorities are seeking methods to reduce these costs. Some are acquiring properties instead of paying hotels or landlords; for instance, Breckland Council in Norfolk has converted a former school into residential flats. The increased demand is attributed to cost of living pressures, a rise in divorces, and certain private landlords exiting the market. However, the primary cause stems from the government reimbursing councils for the majority of their expenses at 2011 rates, despite housing costs having quadrupled since that time. Last week, the LGA urged the government to increase these rates. The Treasury is expected to respond by stating it is providing councils with unprecedented funding. Nevertheless, there is universal consensus that this issue requires a long-term resolution. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commented: “Despite inheriting the worst housing crisis in living memory, we are working at pace to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation.” The spokesperson further mentioned that the ministry was reforming the planning system and investing an additional £500m into its affordable homes programme. For news from Beds, Herts, and Bucks, follow BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram, and X. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.