Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Charlotte Pugmire, her husband Mark, and their two daughters have been living in a caravan near Cowes since July. The caravan was provided by the Isle of Wight council for the homeless as a temporary solution. For the Pugmire family, the lounge area serves as their living room, dining room, play area, and bedroom and the only heating source is a gas fire. Renting is difficult in the area as people can make more income from holiday rents in the summer. Mrs. Pugmire stated, “There’s such a small amount of socially affordable properties and every time a housing application gets rejected, it means more people end up in situations like this.” Council Leader Phil Jordan said he is worried about people living in incorrect housing. He said there’s no immediate answer, but they are prioritising long term solutions.
Sharing the same site, Fawn Britton and her four children lived in a caravan before they were relocated to a two-bedroom flat in Shanklin. In the new accommodation, her younger children have to share one bedroom and she has to sleep in the lounge area. The flat has no dining table or oven, so the family eats microwaveable meals and tinned vegetables. Furthermore, as all of her support network is located in Newport, where she spends two hours a day driving back and forth to drop off and collect her children, she feels isolated. One of her biggest fears is the duration of their stay, as there is no stipulation on how long people can stay in temporary housing.
The Isle of Wight council has 187 families currently living in either temporary or emergency accommodation. The council has to use hotels, bed and breakfasts, caravan sites, and holiday lets, spending an average of £55,825 per week on temporary housing. Phil Jordan, the council leader, said that a lack of affordable housing is due to the fact that “personal circumstances” and wages are not particularly high in the area. He added that they are working on supporting the building of more affordable homes to address the issue. A government spokesperson reassured that if people feel that their accommodation is not suitable, they could voice their concerns to the council and the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. Mrs. Pugmire has received news that they could be eligible for a flat in the New Year, but it remains uncertain.
In conclusion, the Isle of Wight council has been providing temporary accommodations such as hotels, bed and breakfasts, caravan sites, and holiday lets for people who seek homelessness prevention. It has been proven challenging for some to obtain long-term housing, which has led to many families living in unsuitable and uncomfortable housing conditions. While the council is working on long-term solutions and the government has pledged to increase affordable housing starts, many families are still waiting anxiously for a permanent home
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.