15 households a DAY being made homeless in Milton Keynes
The sudden surge began this month and, at its peak, equated to one new family becoming homeless every half an hour of the working day.
Last week 73 households visited the council as actually ‘homeless on the day’.
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Hide AdAt the same time a further 190 families (38 per day) saw a Homelessness Prevention Officer as they are threatened with homelessness.
Most of these families are in work. The main reason for their plight is eviction by private landlords – through no fault of their own.
Councillor Nigel Long, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: “Milton Keynes faces a spike in homelessness with families being evicted by private landlords under the so-called Section 21 no fault evictions.”
Homelessness data suggests 94% of the rise in homelessness can be blamed on no-fault evictions, which have more than doubled over the past nine years.
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Hide AdCllr Long added: “The solution has to be for the Government to change this harmful Section 21 Housing law and restore security to the private rented sector.”
He added: “We also need to see the Prime Minister’s pledge to end the borrowing restrictions that stop us from building new council houses removed this year, not in four years’ time when she is unlikely to be the Prime Minister.”
When the borrowing cap is lifted, MK Council plans to build 596 new council homes.
By the end of last week 593 households were in temporary accommodation provided by MK Council. Many of these are flats rented privately by the council. Only three of these families were in bed and breakfast accommodation.
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Hide AdMeanwhile 37 rough sleepers were provided with temporary shelter last week. Many more have been rehoused permanently, causing MK’s rough sleeper tally to drop considerably.
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