North Yorkshire Council is taking steps to address the pressing issue of homelessness in Scarborough by acquiring 11 new build properties from Keepmoat Homes.
The properties will be used as affordable rented accommodation, specifically as temporary accommodation for homeless households. This £2m initiative is part of the council's wider plan to develop 90 new units of temporary accommodation across North Yorkshire.
Executive member for Housing - Councillor Simon Myers - says it's a first step in tackling the area's housing problems.
Scarborough faces a significant housing challenge, with over 2,500 households on the waiting list for accommodation. The lack of suitable accommodation for families facing homelessness often necessitates placing them in expensive private temporary accommodation. This new development aims to alleviate this issue by providing quality, managed temporary accommodation for families in need.
The properties will be allocated to families in temporary accommodation or those with priority need. Given the location, priority will be given to families with low support needs. The council also retains the flexibility to convert the properties into general needs rented housing if the demand for temporary accommodation decreases in the future.
The Housing Needs team in Scarborough will be responsible for managing the properties. They are in the process of recruiting a Temporary Accommodation Manager specifically to oversee these and other temporary accommodation units in the eastern part of the county. To ensure efficient maintenance, the council is also procuring the services of a local Registered Provider.
The total cost of acquiring the 11 properties is estimated at £2 million, which will be covered by previously approved funding for temporary accommodation development. This cost translates to approximately £185,255 per property, representing good value compared to the average cost of developing a new build property, which ranges from £200,000 to £210,000 for a two-bedroom house.
This initiative is expected to bring several positive impacts:
- Providing much-needed temporary accommodation for homeless families in Scarborough
- Contributing to the council's target of developing 90 new temporary accommodation units across North Yorkshire
- Generating annual savings of approximately £343,282 by reducing reliance on expensive private temporary accommodation
Scarborough Councillor Rich Maw has welcomed the new homes but says many more are needed.
Eastfield Councillor, Tony Randerson, is calling for more effort to put into to building social housing in the Scarborough area.
Scarborough Councillor Heather Philips says the housing issues in Scarborough are especially acute and often hidden from view.
Currently, more than 2,500 households requiring accommodation are on the authority’s Homechoice scheme in the Scarborough area in addition to “high levels of households who are either homeless or threatened with homelessness” there are currently around 30-40 families having to be placed in temporary accommodation at any one time.
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