News / bristol city council
40 per cent rise in homeless people in temporary housing since before pandemic
Hundreds more people in Bristol are homeless and now staying in temporary housing compared to before the pandemic.
The number of people staying in temporary accommodation in Bristol is now 40 per cent higher than before the pandemic. People are also tending to stay longer in temporary housing, due to a lack of suitable alternatives.
Temporary accommodation currently costs Bristol City Council a huge amount of money to rent, so housing chiefs are trying to find a cheaper alternative. The council’s cabinet approved new plans to cut costs and provide on-site support for tenants, on October 4.
is needed now More than ever
Councillor Tom Renhard, cabinet member for housing, said: “Temporary accommodation remains a huge challenge for us and we have almost 1,200 households in temporary accommodation at the moment, which isn’t good for those individuals and also creates a financial pressure on the general fund.
“We have had to think a bit more innovatively about what we can do to get some of those cost pressures under control, but also making sure that people are being supported when they are in temporary accommodation.”
Under the new plans, the council hopes to save £1.5 million each year and provide proper support to homeless people staying there, like with counselling or addiction issues. But the number of people made homeless and moving into temporary accommodation could continue to shoot up.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “The real concern for us is there’ll be two easy targets for the government to go after, as they make savings to cover their policies, and that’s benefits and local government. They won’t touch the NHS or defence, but I think they’re going to come after us.
“Just as our population takes a hit, our ability to support our population will also take a hit. It beggars belief as to where we are at the moment and we need something different to happen at the top table.”
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
Main photo: Bristol City Council
Read next:
- Firefighters now forced to use food banks says chief fire officer
- Warning homeless in Bristol will rise without significant government investment
- Foodbanks face empty shelves as demand soars
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