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| Homeless households 'off the radar' of public services | Homeless households 'off the radar' of public services |
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| Homeless households are being sent out of London to bed and breakfast hotels as far away as Newcastle, Manchester and Leeds without the councils they are moving to knowing that they are there, a Guardian investigation can reveal. Councillors and housing campaigners warn that the failure to inform receiving boroughs of the new arrivals could put vulnerable families at "urgent risk". | Homeless households are being sent out of London to bed and breakfast hotels as far away as Newcastle, Manchester and Leeds without the councils they are moving to knowing that they are there, a Guardian investigation can reveal. Councillors and housing campaigners warn that the failure to inform receiving boroughs of the new arrivals could put vulnerable families at "urgent risk". |
| Last year, 580 homeless households were sent out of London into temporary accommodation, according to research by the housing charity Shelter. Newham council, in east London, has been sending homeless households to the Bailey hotel in Birmingham since last year, possibly longer. But a Birmingham city council spokesman says it has no knowledge of these households and has received nothing from Newham. He describes these families as "completely off the radar" of public services. | Last year, 580 homeless households were sent out of London into temporary accommodation, according to research by the housing charity Shelter. Newham council, in east London, has been sending homeless households to the Bailey hotel in Birmingham since last year, possibly longer. But a Birmingham city council spokesman says it has no knowledge of these households and has received nothing from Newham. He describes these families as "completely off the radar" of public services. |
| Bola (not her real name) has been living at the Bailey hotel for nearly two months. She is eight months pregnant. She has had to transfer all her medical records from London to Birmingham. The stress of being homeless and of moving 120 miles has severely affected her health. | Bola (not her real name) has been living at the Bailey hotel for nearly two months. She is eight months pregnant. She has had to transfer all her medical records from London to Birmingham. The stress of being homeless and of moving 120 miles has severely affected her health. |
| "The second week I was in Birmingham I was hospitalised for four days due to stress and exhaustion. The doctors weren't comfortable with me going back to the hotel," she says. | "The second week I was in Birmingham I was hospitalised for four days due to stress and exhaustion. The doctors weren't comfortable with me going back to the hotel," she says. |
| Bola had spent a year living in her mother's flat in Newham, sleeping on the floor. She says she was kicked out when she became pregnant. "I was 26 weeks the first time I went to the council, and they said they couldn't help me and asked me to leave. I walked around Westfield shopping centre in Stratford until it closed and then I sat on the 25 night bus. I didn't sleep at all. The next day they said they couldn't help me again, so I called an old colleague and he let me stay one night on his couch. I went back the third day and I was told I'd be put in Birmingham." | Bola had spent a year living in her mother's flat in Newham, sleeping on the floor. She says she was kicked out when she became pregnant. "I was 26 weeks the first time I went to the council, and they said they couldn't help me and asked me to leave. I walked around Westfield shopping centre in Stratford until it closed and then I sat on the 25 night bus. I didn't sleep at all. The next day they said they couldn't help me again, so I called an old colleague and he let me stay one night on his couch. I went back the third day and I was told I'd be put in Birmingham." |
| Bola says the hotel room is small, not very clean, but "OK". Time goes by agonisingly slowly: there is nothing to do but sit around. Some weeks ago, Bola says, she considered taking her own life. She spoke to a doctor and has been referred to a counsellor. | Bola says the hotel room is small, not very clean, but "OK". Time goes by agonisingly slowly: there is nothing to do but sit around. Some weeks ago, Bola says, she considered taking her own life. She spoke to a doctor and has been referred to a counsellor. |
| Vulnerability | Vulnerability |
| Steve Bedser, Birmingham's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, says: "It's the vulnerability of these people that worries us and the kinds of things that might happen if we're not aware they're here. Quite apart from the bread and butter planning issues that any council might reasonably want to take account of, such as schools provision and talking to the NHS about medical facilities, there are all kinds of risks about children and safeguarding. We know that children in homeless families are intrinsically more vulnerable, and we need to know that those kids are landing in Birmingham so that our social workers have got a fighting chance of giving them support. | Steve Bedser, Birmingham's cabinet member for health and wellbeing, says: "It's the vulnerability of these people that worries us and the kinds of things that might happen if we're not aware they're here. Quite apart from the bread and butter planning issues that any council might reasonably want to take account of, such as schools provision and talking to the NHS about medical facilities, there are all kinds of risks about children and safeguarding. We know that children in homeless families are intrinsically more vulnerable, and we need to know that those kids are landing in Birmingham so that our social workers have got a fighting chance of giving them support. |
| "My immediate priority is making sure these vulnerable families are properly taken account of by the system. There is a real communication issue to be addressed here, and this is a set of circumstances where there is genuine urgent risk." | "My immediate priority is making sure these vulnerable families are properly taken account of by the system. There is a real communication issue to be addressed here, and this is a set of circumstances where there is genuine urgent risk." |
| In November, the Local Government Association (LGA) held a meeting with councils in England to discuss "possible displacement of homeless households" and agreed to draft a code of practice whereby information on homeless households would be sent to the receiving area. In February, Birmingham council leader Sir Albert Bore wrote to the LGA formally addressing concerns that, despite November's agreement, nothing had been done. His letter went on to say that the "rumours that large numbers of households being placed outside London persist. I remain extremely concerned about the potential impact on vulnerable individuals and communities." | In November, the Local Government Association (LGA) held a meeting with councils in England to discuss "possible displacement of homeless households" and agreed to draft a code of practice whereby information on homeless households would be sent to the receiving area. In February, Birmingham council leader Sir Albert Bore wrote to the LGA formally addressing concerns that, despite November's agreement, nothing had been done. His letter went on to say that the "rumours that large numbers of households being placed outside London persist. I remain extremely concerned about the potential impact on vulnerable individuals and communities." |
| Sir Merrick Cockell, chair of the association, replied: "LGA officers will follow this up with your officers." | Sir Merrick Cockell, chair of the association, replied: "LGA officers will follow this up with your officers." |
| There has been a system established in London since 2011 that keeps track of homeless individuals who are moved around the capital. The inter-borough temporary accommodation agreement (IBTAA) ensures that boroughs share information about where they are moving homeless people, as well as any safeguarding issues. But speaking to housing officers and experts in London, it becomes clear that there is no proper system for informing areas outside the capital of homeless placements. | |
| Most London boroughs are placing some homeless households in B&B accommodation outside the capital without informing the receiving areas. Areas that take homeless families from London include Northampton, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Colchester, Essex, Newcastle and Milton Keynes. The exchange of information is patchy even on such basic details as the number of homeless households. The Guardian could find no example of a London council that informs receiving areas of B&B placements regularly, case by case. One benefits manager in Essex says: "It was only when the families themselves said they were originally from Enfield that we realised they had been sent here." | Most London boroughs are placing some homeless households in B&B accommodation outside the capital without informing the receiving areas. Areas that take homeless families from London include Northampton, Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham, Colchester, Essex, Newcastle and Milton Keynes. The exchange of information is patchy even on such basic details as the number of homeless households. The Guardian could find no example of a London council that informs receiving areas of B&B placements regularly, case by case. One benefits manager in Essex says: "It was only when the families themselves said they were originally from Enfield that we realised they had been sent here." |
| Only Milton Keynes says that it communicates with the boroughs that send families to its area. "We have responded to the challenges by forging good working relationships with our colleagues in the London boroughs," says a spokesman. | Only Milton Keynes says that it communicates with the boroughs that send families to its area. "We have responded to the challenges by forging good working relationships with our colleagues in the London boroughs," says a spokesman. |
| At a meeting last month of the capital's councils, attended by housing officers from Birmingham, Newham council was presented with a list of six homeless households it had sent to the Bailey hotel. Of these, at least three included children. The Birmingham officers were given these names as a result of the Guardian's investigation. | At a meeting last month of the capital's councils, attended by housing officers from Birmingham, Newham council was presented with a list of six homeless households it had sent to the Bailey hotel. Of these, at least three included children. The Birmingham officers were given these names as a result of the Guardian's investigation. |
| A spokesman for umbrella organisation London Councils says a binding agreement already exists for placing households outside the capital. "Under this, the London council – the one placing the family elsewhere – retains the same degree of responsibility for the child's welfare during the relocation process as it would if the child was relocating to another London borough, regardless of what part of the UK the family is moving to," he says. | A spokesman for umbrella organisation London Councils says a binding agreement already exists for placing households outside the capital. "Under this, the London council – the one placing the family elsewhere – retains the same degree of responsibility for the child's welfare during the relocation process as it would if the child was relocating to another London borough, regardless of what part of the UK the family is moving to," he says. |
| Yet in a leaked document, dated May 2013, obtained by the Guardian, London Councils says it is only now "seeking to develop a set of guiding principles for accommodation placements" outside the capital. It admits that "there is real concern from authorities outside London that homeless families are being placed in their areas by London boroughs without any prior knowledge or notification. As well as the children's safeguarding implications, this has an impact on local services and is causing problems for future planning." | Yet in a leaked document, dated May 2013, obtained by the Guardian, London Councils says it is only now "seeking to develop a set of guiding principles for accommodation placements" outside the capital. It admits that "there is real concern from authorities outside London that homeless families are being placed in their areas by London boroughs without any prior knowledge or notification. As well as the children's safeguarding implications, this has an impact on local services and is causing problems for future planning." |
| The document continues: "Unless properly managed and co-ordinated, there is a possibility that the increased movement of homeless households from London to other parts of the country will result in the following: extra pressure on public services, such as health, social care and education, in areas receiving the families that move out of London; disagreements between local authorities, especially between those that are placing and receiving families that move out of London; increased risk to the reputation of London boroughs, which may be presented in the media as being uncaring and disinterested in the impact that moving families out of London may have on children; and increased risk of legal challenge." | The document continues: "Unless properly managed and co-ordinated, there is a possibility that the increased movement of homeless households from London to other parts of the country will result in the following: extra pressure on public services, such as health, social care and education, in areas receiving the families that move out of London; disagreements between local authorities, especially between those that are placing and receiving families that move out of London; increased risk to the reputation of London boroughs, which may be presented in the media as being uncaring and disinterested in the impact that moving families out of London may have on children; and increased risk of legal challenge." |
| In Newham, homeless acceptances have increased by 429% in the last two years. In 2012, there were 381 homeless families in the borough, five times as many as in 2010 – the highest rise in the capital. | In Newham, homeless acceptances have increased by 429% in the last two years. In 2012, there were 381 homeless families in the borough, five times as many as in 2010 – the highest rise in the capital. |
| In a statement, Newham council says it is "experiencing a housing crisis" and is under "tremendous pressure"; a situation exacerbated by the "significant numbers of households placed in Newham by other London boroughs". The statement continues: "The temporary accommodation provided in Birmingham and other boroughs outside Newham is for residents who require emergency housing while we investigate their homelessness application, therefore we have very little time to update other local authorities once a family takes up an offer." | In a statement, Newham council says it is "experiencing a housing crisis" and is under "tremendous pressure"; a situation exacerbated by the "significant numbers of households placed in Newham by other London boroughs". The statement continues: "The temporary accommodation provided in Birmingham and other boroughs outside Newham is for residents who require emergency housing while we investigate their homelessness application, therefore we have very little time to update other local authorities once a family takes up an offer." |
| It says there have been 40 families placed temporarily in the Bailey hotel since October 2012 while their homelessness applications were considered. There are currently 11 families staying there. | It says there have been 40 families placed temporarily in the Bailey hotel since October 2012 while their homelessness applications were considered. There are currently 11 families staying there. |
| Newham says it will now provide Birmingham with "regular updates". Kay Boycott, director of policy and communications at Shelter, says that, with homeless figures set to increase further as housing benefit caps hit the capital's low-income households, this can't come a minute too soon. | Newham says it will now provide Birmingham with "regular updates". Kay Boycott, director of policy and communications at Shelter, says that, with homeless figures set to increase further as housing benefit caps hit the capital's low-income households, this can't come a minute too soon. |
| "It's a shocking consequence of our housing crisis that families and children who have already gone through the pain of losing their home are then moved away from their area, and in some cases across the country into a B&B. When that happens, it's essential that councils notify receiving boroughs where homeless families are housed so that they can receive the support and school places that they need," she says. "We hope that continuity of care is not lost, so that vulnerable children don't slip through the net – with tragic consequences." | "It's a shocking consequence of our housing crisis that families and children who have already gone through the pain of losing their home are then moved away from their area, and in some cases across the country into a B&B. When that happens, it's essential that councils notify receiving boroughs where homeless families are housed so that they can receive the support and school places that they need," she says. "We hope that continuity of care is not lost, so that vulnerable children don't slip through the net – with tragic consequences." |
| The Association of Directors of Children's Services says it is unable to comment on the situation because it doesn't have enough information about the households placed in B&Bs. | The Association of Directors of Children's Services says it is unable to comment on the situation because it doesn't have enough information about the households placed in B&Bs. |
| A Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman says: "There is absolutely no excuse for families to be sent miles away without proper regard for their circumstances. The law is clear that councils have a responsibility to take into account people's jobs and schools when securing homes for those in need. On the rare occasion that a council places a family in accommodation in another, neighbouring local authority they must notify that other authority in writing." | A Department for Communities and Local Government spokeswoman says: "There is absolutely no excuse for families to be sent miles away without proper regard for their circumstances. The law is clear that councils have a responsibility to take into account people's jobs and schools when securing homes for those in need. On the rare occasion that a council places a family in accommodation in another, neighbouring local authority they must notify that other authority in writing." |
| Bola has now been told by Newham council that she has made herself intentionally homeless and has to leave the Bailey hotel by 3 August, close to the date she is due to give birth. Shelter is challenging the decision. | Bola has now been told by Newham council that she has made herself intentionally homeless and has to leave the Bailey hotel by 3 August, close to the date she is due to give birth. Shelter is challenging the decision. |