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Homeless Families In Adur Left Without Basic Facilities

Tuesday, 27 September 2022 06:00

By Jessica Hubbard, Local Democracy Reporter

Families put into temporary accommodation by Adur District Council often lack basic facilities.

Due to a housing shortage, families and single people often have to be placed in B&Bs and hotels which means they don’t have access to cooking and laundry facilities.

The issue was raised by councillor Joss Loader (Shoreham Beach Residents’ Association, Marine) at a joint overview and scrutiny committee meeting last Thursday (22 September).

“I’m aware through casework that people have been moved into temporary housing or accommodation which lacks basic cooking and laundry facilities,” she said.

“Obviously if people can’t wash their clothes or their bed linen within their own homes they presumably have to go to a laundrette, which is more expensive. 

“Likewise, if you can’t cook you have to buy takeaways or you presumably have to buy food that’s pre-prepared.”

ADC’s cabinet member for customer services Carson Albury (Con, Manor), whose portfolio includes housing, said that an ‘acute shortage’ of accommodation means families can be placed in hotels and B&Bs.

They are not given any financial assistance by the council to help pay for laundry or food.

“Where families with children are placed in B&Bs, we prioritise them moving out of that place as soon as possible into more suitable accommodation,” Mr Albury said.

“It’s as soon as another property becomes available because there is an acute shortage of not only temporary accommodation, but ordinary accommodation as we all know.”

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