Our clients’ difficulties are many and varied. The greatest problem is the lack of affordable accommodation in Chelmsford for single people. It is difficult for people on means-tested benefits to access the private rented sector. Most landlords require the equivalent of two months’ rent up front. Single homeless people therefore frequently approach the Borough Council for help but the Local Authority can only assist in certain circumstances. To qualify for assistance a homeless applicant has to be in ‘priority need’. Single people have to show that they are vulnerable because of old age, mental illness or disability, physical disability or some other special reason. There is ample case law on ‘vulnerability’. However, clients often seek our advice because the Council has decided that they are not ‘vulnerable’. To qualify, a person must convince the Council that s/he is less able to fend for her/himself (as far as housing is concerned) than an ‘ordinary’ homeless person and that s/he will suffer harm if roofless, where an ‘ordinary’ homeless person would not. It is difficult to imagine who this ‘ordinary’ homeless person is! When the Council refuses to assist under the homelessness legislation, they have to issue a written decision and give the unsuccessful applicant the right of review. We have dealt with a number of reviews this year and have been very successful. Homelessness reviews are very time- consuming. They involve interviewing the client at great length and usually obtaining medical, and sometimes, other evidence. Many of our single homeless clients abuse alcohol and/or drugs and also suffer from various degrees of mental health problems. The Council refers all cases where there is a possible medical issue to Nowmedical, a firm of medical practitioners. We have to argue that the evidence from the applicant’s own doctors should be given more consideration as these doctors know the applicant and Nowmedical does not. This is, of course, also a social policy issue. As we have been very short staffed this year, we have not always been able to do the reviews ourselves and have had to ask for Shelter’s assistance. Shelter has, as usual, been very helpful and our clients have benefited from their expertise. We are therefore sad to learn that their service is going to be reorganised and restricted. Furthermore, there are no solicitors in Chelmsford specialising in housing. We therefore have to refer to solicitors in Colchester and other towns. As many of our clients are on means- tested benefits, they may not be able to afford the travel. Although we are able to assist clients with homelessness reviews this is only going to help a limited number of people. To tackle the problem of the shortage of affordable accommodation in town, private landlords have to be encouraged to let to tenants on benefits and more houses and flats have to be built. These issues are discussed at the Homelessness Prevention Partnership meetings that the Bureau attends. And for the future as soon as we are fully staffed, I am hoping to be able to devote more time to housing casework, develop the Bureau’s housing expertise and expand our local knowledge in housing matters.

Housing Statistics

Below is the categories of housing enquiries and the number of enquires

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