Hastings Housing Crisis: No Room at the Inn
PAUL MCLAUGHLIN
We all know there is a massive housing and homelessness crisis in Hastings. The growing visibility of rough sleepers on our streets, the simmering anger about the condition of both private and social rented housing, and the seemingly ever-increasing numbers of households living in temporary accommodation is evidence of a problem that is only getting worse.
Hastings BC has been taken to the brink of bankruptcy by the spiralling costs of temporary accommodation. Earlier this month the Cabinet was informed that this year’s budget overspend for the service had climbed above £1m and councillors were told that whilst preventative action had stabilised demand, budgetary savings intended to reduce costs had not materialised.
It would be easy to focus on the financial costs of the housing crisis. However, the real costs are paid by those across our town who are homeless or living in mould-infested and/or overcrowded flats, and by those who face eviction because they do not have the means to afford impossible rent increases.
The new Labour Government has made house building a key priority and has just announced changes to the planning system to accelerate house building, including plans to change the rules on low quality green belt land. They have set a new-build target for Hastings of 712 homes each year for the next 5 years.
The Green-led Hastings BC does not believe the land is available within the town to meet the annual target and so the scene is set for a political bust-up.
Meanwhile, the crisis continues and as we approach Christmas, a time of year when people are encouraged to be generous and think about those less fortunate than themselves, we have asked for the personal views of local people to give us their perspective on how we as a town and as a country should respond to the crisis.
This is the start of an ongoing discussion and debate within the pages of HIP. We want to encourage views and constructive suggestions from all perspectives. Please let us know what YOU think.
This is part of a series of articles on housing in Hastings:
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/articles/news/a-view-from-the-streets
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/articles/news/be-bold-to-deliver-more-council-housing
https://www.hastingsindependentpress.co.uk/uncategorized/living-rents
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