Social Housing Allocation To Change?

Wednesday, 19 June 2019 at 12:27

The way social housing in Jersey is allocated could change.

A review has recommended changing the eligibility criteria.

Income thresholds could be altered, and social housing made available to single people and couples under 50.

They are among the suggestions in independent review by Professor Timothy Brown from the Housing Quality Network.

A new banding system for prioritising who gets a home is another recommendation, along with a better way of managing applications from people with specialist housing needs.

Plus, it says there should be a statutory appeals process.

The review of access to social housing looked at the eligibility criteria, allocations policies, the priority given to applications on the Housing Gateway waiting list, the way people are matched to available homes and how vulnerable people are supported through the process.

Housing Minister Senator Sam Mezec has welcomed it, and called the recommendations challenging:

"I am pleased that the review recognises that the Housing Gateway process has worked well since it was established in 2012, but with new homes being built by Andium Homes and the housing trusts, it is the right time to make changes to make sure the system is able to respond effectively to changing housing needs."

He says he will reflect on the findings and report back in due course setting out how they can be implemented or further investigated.

"Finding a home can be very challenging for people, especially when faced with difficult situations such as homelessness, and this review will help ensure access to social housing is fair, transparent and targeted at those in the greatest need."