Councillor Highlights Soaring Homelessness Demands in East Lancs
A councillor reveals a sharp rise in homelessness needs in Pendle, urging action to address the growing crisis in temporary accommodation.
Pendle, East Lancs, Homelessness, Councillor, Temporary Accommodation
Pendle: There’s been a big jump in homelessness in this area. More folks are needing temporary shelter, and it’s becoming a real concern.
At the same time, there are quite a few empty homes just sitting around. Councillors are scratching their heads about it.
They shared some tough stories at the last council meeting. One was about a young mum and her baby who had nothing but a kettle and a bottle warmer. Another was about someone with learning disabilities facing eviction.
Lib-Dem councillors Dorothy Lord and Chris Church brought up the issue, saying the need for temporary housing has skyrocketed in Pendle over the years.
They pointed out that the costs have shot up from £5,540 in 2018 to a whopping £303,262 last year. Over four years, it’s added up to £863,000!
Cllr Lord mentioned that this is a problem not just here but across the country. She said the government support for temporary housing just isn’t cutting it. More vulnerable people are becoming homeless, even with so many empty homes around.
She talked about a local charity, Curry On The Street, that helps people in Nelson and Burnley. They had a case of someone with learning disabilities who was about to be evicted over a £6,000 issue. No support worker was there to help her.
It’s frustrating because there are people out there who really need help, but they’re not getting it. Cllr Lord also mentioned a grandma who reached out because her granddaughter and baby were homeless after a breakup. They had to wait weeks for help.
The councillors are asking Pendle’s MPs for better funding to tackle homelessness. They also want the county council to look into social care policies for those at risk of losing their homes.
They’re pushing for a review of homelessness in the borough to figure out what’s causing it and how to fix it. Cllr Church, who leads the committee, is keen to get started on this.
In November, they found out that over 880 properties in Pendle have been empty for more than six months. It’s a tough situation that needs some serious attention.