InfoIslington - Islington Reference Library

Homelessness among Black Communities in the London Borough of Islington

This publication published by Islington in 2007  and written by Andy Steele from the University of Salford and Naseer Ahmed. The authors interviewed 29 black homeless households.

Chapter 1 provides background information on the incidence of Black homelessness in a national, regional and local context. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the methodology adopted for the study, while Chapter 3 focuses on the views of service providers. The penultimate chapter summarises the findings from the interviews with homeless people themselves and the final chapter discusses the issues arising from the study and proposes a series of recommendations.

Quaker Christmas Shelter at the Union Chapel, Highbury Corner

The Quaker Christmas Shelter is held annually at Union Chapel, Higbury Corner, Islington, London, from 23rd to 30th December. Union Chapel is a Congregational Church that works with Homeless People in Islington year-round through their Margins Project. We use the Margins Project space for our shelter.

We are able to offer 25 beds each night, with 5 'reserved' for women, if needed. Clients can be referred by agencies or self-refer. Referral Agencies should provide the person's NI Number and Chain Number, if available, along with the first and last name. Clients must check in by 8:30pm to claim their bed for the night.

The Referrals Telephone Line will open on 22nd December. Call 07833-123155 to make a Referral or to Self-Refer.

Quaker Christmas Shelter offers Breakfast to 'all comers', whether homeless or impoverished, from 8am to 10am each day from 24th to 30th December. A packed lunch is available to take away, as well.

In the evening during the Quaker Christmas Shelter, we offer a 'home cooked' dinner for up to 75 'all comers' per night. We will also have some Christmas themed entertainment and up to 30 services (e.g. a doctor and/or nurse on site, a hairdresser, an optometrist, etc.). Perhaps most important, we will also have the Pilion Trust on site to provide professional drug/alcohol/mental health counselling and outreach work.

Every year, we try to get some of our rough sleepers into a Detox programme through the direct intervention of the Quaker Christmas Shelter volunteers and also the professional Drug and Alcohol Outreach Workers. Currently, we work with the Pilion Trust and other agencies to continue to try to give people opportunities to tackle their drug and alcohol dependencies. At the end of each shelter, we also help each guest who wishes to have a 'move on' plan from our shelter, such as to another shelter, to a hostel, or returning to their home.

We rely on nearly 100 volunteers each year to make the Quaker Christmas shelter a success.

CHAIN Annual Report on Homelessness in Islington 2012/3

Numbers of people sleeping rough in Islington has risen dramatically in the last two years. From 53 people seen sleeping rough in 2010/11 the numbers rose to 180 in 2012/3. See the detailed breakdown here.

Focus on Homelessness

This fact sheet from the Islington Evidence Hub was published in May 2013.

Prevention of Homelessness Strategy 2012 - 2014

This is Islington Council's third Prevention of Homelessness Strategy and was published in November 2012.

Household Estimates, Borough (GLA)

http://data.london.gov.uk/datastore/package/household-estimates-borough

Estimates of the total number of households by borough, 2001-2041

Estimates for 2001-2011, and projections from 2012 to 2041 (GLA 2012 round SHLAA based Projections).

City of London is merged with Westminster due to small numbers.

Housing Allocations Scheme

Following a consultation between July - December 2012 the Council Executive committee agreed a new housing allocation scheme on 11 July 2013. The reports can be accessed here

To be eligible to go on the waiting list people will be:

Applicants will need to live in the borough at time of their application and have been resident for three out of the last five years. Exceptions to this will include people who are resident in a hospital or supported housing unit and who were previously resident in the borough. Groups that the council is proposing may be excluded from the housing waiting list include;

• Those who are legally ineligible due to their immigration status.

• Those guilty of serious unacceptable behaviour including those who have previously breached conditions of tenancy, have been convicted of an indictable offence or have fraudulently obtained a property.

• People applying for housing who are not in immediate housing need e.g. have less than 100 points.

• People who own or jointly own accommodation.

• Where the household has sufficient income or capital to meet their own housing need.

4.2 The category of serious unacceptable behaviour is defined as being applicants or members of their household who have committed unacceptable behaviour – as defined under s167 of the Housing Act 1996 - serious enough to make them unsuitable to be council tenants which may include;

• Breaching a condition of the tenancy agreement

• Causing a nuisance to neighbours

• Being convicted of using their home for immoral or illegal purposes

• Being convicted of an indictable offence, in or in the vicinity of their home.

Advice on Housing and Homelessness in islington

This factsheet compiled in  December 2012 by Islington Reference Library gives details of local organisations working with the homeless and people with housing issues.

Homeless bound? Homelessness in London, the South East and East of England

This publication from the National Housing Federation presents the findings from research into homelessness in London, the South East and East of England. It looks at the different aspects of homelessness in England’s most unaffordable areas: children in B&B accommodation; private rented sector tenancies and homelessness; homeless households and out of borough placements; trends in the numbers of people sleeping rough; numbers of people in temporary accommodation; and the impacts of welfare reform on the homeless and badly housed families. Presents case studies demonstrating the work of housing associations to address rising homelessness in their areas. Finds that: local authorities in and around London are struggling with their housing caseloads; homelessness is increasing in London, the South East and East; and the nature of homelessness is changing. Indicates that welfare reform will have a serious impact on homelessness. Presents recommendations for addressing homelessness by local and central government, and concludes that in a time of austerity, it is important to invest in preventative services rather than allowing problems to escalate.

London Rent Watch: Rent Inflation and Affordability in London's Private Rental Market

This Shelter report published in March 2012 researched the affordability of private renting in London. It found that in six boroughs including Islington a household income of more than £52,000 is required to rent a two bedroom home.

 Key results found were:

• Private rents rose at an average annual equivalent rate of 7% across London in 2011.
• London rents rose slightly more on family sized homes with rises of 7% for two bedroom homes, and 8% for three bedroom homes.
• The rate of rental inflation was slightly higher in Inner London at 7.4%, than in Outer London at 5.5%.
• The rate of inflation on London private rents is 1.8 times greater than the rate of inflation on the average London wage. In outer London it is three times higher than wage inflation.
•   In contrast to the rises in rents, average London wages have fallen for a number of key worker professions: The London average wage for nurses and teachers is down by 1%, and Police Officers pay in the capital is down by 2%.