Written evidence submitted by Rozanne Ferber [EXA 099]

I work in the public sector in the West Midlands and routinely looking for supported accommodation for both male and females.I have over 19 years of experience doing so.

This sector has some well established providers who offer a wraparound service of appropriate support including keyworkers in situ at the premises and support plans in place, these providers are also proactive in terms of risk and notifying the appropriate agencies in a timely fashion.They also offer move on services to Independent accommodation , equipping people to be able to manage a tenancy .

However these providers are few and far between. The majority of exempt accommodation in the West Midlands is run for profit by unscrupulous landlords who:-

a)      Provide literally no support to the tenants, have no support plans in place, are uncontactable and do not liaise with other agencies that may be involved regarding any risk issues and Safeguarding Matters in regard to their client group

b)      Will house people with the same issues in a property ,ie substance misuse which then has the effect of creating a bubble of people who are likely to commit acquisitive crime in the local area in order to fund their addictions. There is also an impact on people who are in the process of addressing their addiction with local services and relapse due to the ready availability of substances in their accommodation.

c)      Often accommodation is substandard and in some cases hazardous, Issues I have been aware of include bare electrical wiring, rodent infestations, mattresses that have been previously used with stains of bodily fluid on them. Needles left in communal areas ,lack of cleaning equipment.

d)      Service charges which could be from £7- 25 per week for non existent services

Women have specific and additional issues with exempt accommodation in the West Midlands:

       a)Lack of single sex accomodation, means women are having  to share accommodation   with males unknown to them. Women may have suffered previous trauma and find it triggering to be housed with males. There have been reports of harassment and threatening behaviours from some males to females in the accommodation

b) Women have also reported harassment ( including sexual harrasment ) from sole landlords who rent out these properties and threats to evict if they do not acquiesce to their demands.

Affordability:

Due to the high rents charged for exempt accommodation tenants who gain employment can no longer afford to live in the accommodation.

This leaves individuals having to make a choice between employment and homelessness, this is particularly problematic on two fronts-

Increasing the homeless population , at a time when housing stock is almost non existent

Increased sanctions on benefits if not able to get back into employment which will be made more problematic due to the new DWP ruling that shortens the period for claimants to find employment.

Increased costs to the tax payers in terms of benefits, and financially acquisitive offending in order to support their basic housing needs.

Limiting individuals potential to reintegrate into the community via the  route of employment and stable , affordable housing

January 2022