Housing action plan debate ‘cannot come quick enough’

The organisation’s latest report on the subject showed an increase among its client base in the first six months of this year.

This was the highest number compared to any other six-month period, said Annie Ashmead.

A States debate on a new housing action plan, which sets out steps it will take to tackle the island’s housing pressures, cannot come quickly enough, she said.

‘When you think that in an island as affluent as Guernsey there are clearly a number of people homeless, it’s a serious cause for concern.

‘Obviously, I’d like to see the housing plan move forward as quickly as possible.’

The report concluded that: ‘The island is experiencing a cost-of-living crisis with rising mortgage interest and rental costs. It is expected that homelessness will continue to increase without active interventions.’

Between 1 July 2022 and 30 June this year, Citizens’ Advice saw 31 clients who were either already homeless or at risk of losing their home.

Just less than half were already either ‘sofa surfing’ or in ‘very temporary’ accommodation, while another eight were facing a threat of eviction or notice to quit.

Nine people who were unemployed or recently lost their job were either already homeless or under threat of homelessness.

Six people said mental health issues were behind their situation, while another six cited a relationship breakdown in their home.

Mrs Ashmead said that a lot of clients had approached St Julian’s House, and CAG had done so on clients’ behalf on some occasions, but nobody had gained even temporary accommodation there.

While CAG was told that the house was full, in other cases it was unclear if the client’s failure to get a place was due to a capacity issue or related to the house’s criteria for entry – residents must not use drugs or drink alcohol on or off the premises.

A report last year from Guernsey Community Foundation said that St Julian’s House was ‘not fit for purpose’ and it suggested that a general housing law be drawn up to create more fairness between landlords and tenants.

This recommendation, and looking into the creation of a dedicated housing charity, were in progress, said the latest report.

The recommendations from the Guernsey Community Foundation will be subject to further consideration with the States.

Mrs Ashmead praised the staff at St Julian’s House.

‘They’re doing a very good job in very trying circumstances,’ she said.

Women, young people and ethnic minority groups made up most of the homeless people, but Mrs Ashmead said that it could be the case that men were not contacting CAG in the first place.

‘Of those who contacted CAG on behalf of someone else, they were all women.

‘This would suggest that men are less likely to seek help and are therefore underrepresented in homelessness data.’