WEST Somerset is still in the grip of a housing crisis which could force more people into temporary accommodation. Civic leaders were reminded this week of a gloomy picture first painted two years ago by housing officers, which revealed the main cause of homelessness in the district is family and friends refusing to continue to provide accommodation, followed by the loss of private rented accommodation. But on Monday night, West Somerset District Council's cabinet finally approved a long awaited housing strategy, a document which aims to tackle the key issues behind the crisis in a series of measures to 2009. Councillors were told by housing, health and welfare portfolio holder Cllr Mary Crowley that the authority hoped to improve and develop a range of tenures to improve the balance between the supply and demand for affordable housing. Currently, there are more than 1,200 households on the council's housing register. In the last year, a total of 280 households presented themselves as homeless, of which 107 met the authority's criteria and were accepted as such. During that time there were just 73 council nominations to registered social landlords, such as housing associations, and many of the vacancies did not match the needs of the homeless people. Cllr Crowley said the result was that homeless people would spend more time in temporary accommodation, which would have financial implications for the council. In 2004/05 the council placed a total of 67 households in temporary accommodation and negotiated temporary stays on a further 31 households to remain 'homeless at home.' At the end of March this year, 59 households were in temporary accommodation, either B and B or leased properties. Housing team leader Anji Mellett said the council now had a total of 34 leased properties, with another two due to come on stream. In the past the council has been praised for its success in meeting tough Government-imposed targets restricting the length of time families could stay in B and B accommodation. Mrs Mellet said the targets remained and the council had only once had a family in B and B for longer than the six week limit. Asked how West Somerset's housing problems compared with other similar local authorities, Mrs Mellett said she did not have comparable figures but would obtain them and make them available to councillors as soon as possible. "But most local authorities do have similar issues," she said. "I have come here from North Devon and I know the issues there were very much the same as in West Somerset." One of the main problems facing local people is affordability, with current house prices ranging from nine times the average salary to up to 25 times in some rural parishes. The new strategy, which is due to be formally adopted by the council next week, sets out four key priorities over the next four years: l To bring on stream 100 affordable homes for sale and 80 affordable homes for rent l To improve the condition of private sector housing by 75 'interventions' to enable householders to find or remain in decent homes l To reduce homelessness in the region by 15 per cent and the use of temporary accommodation by 30 per cent l To address the need for support alongside housing to help vulnerable people by working with partners to increase the provision of 'move-on' accommodation by 30 units. Welcoming the strategy, finance portfolio holder Cllr Roger Webber said it was essential that the priorities were achieved. "As far as the affordable housing is concerned, I feel it is very important that we do achieve the figures of 100 homes for sale and 80 for rent."
