FIFTEEN Islanders waiting for social housing are currently being put up in hotels by the government, it has emerged – with the average wait for those in “urgent need” standing at three years.
There are currently 56 families with children in Band 1 of the Affordable Housing Gateway, which is where applications are placed if the applicant is homeless or is about to become homeless.
But despite being classed as “urgent need”, the average wait time for those in Band 1 housed in the last five years is 2.9 years.
The figures were revealed by the Housing Minister in response to a written States question from Deputy Inna Gardiner.
She asked how many households have been directed to hotels or lodging houses by the government in the last 12 months.
In response, Deputy Sam Mézec said that the government’s Housing Advice Service is currently supporting 15 individuals in hotel placements.
But he explained that there is not a “rolling tally” of those housed in temporary accommodation over the past 12-months due to the “dynamic nature” of the needs of Islanders supported by the service.
It comes after the Affordable Housing Gateway statistics for August found a “continuing need” for one-, three-, and four-bedroom homes.
The report added: “Particularly the elderly and families, are struggling to source suitable, affordable accommodation in the private sector.
“Demand for smaller homes is also driven by the number of families who need to downsize as their circumstances change and the incremental reduction in the age limit for childless singles and couples from 50 years of age down to the current 25 years.”
But the Housing Minister said he has “every confidence that, other than for small numbers of very large family homes, there is enough supply”.
Deputy Mézec added: “Indeed, this supply has led to a number of policy changes which have widened access to the gateway, allowing more Islanders to enjoy the benefits of a tenancy with Andium.
“Andium’s continued delivery of new homes provides opportunities for further widening of access to social housing in the future.”
He pointed to the Le Grand Douet development, which has just been completed at the former Mayfair Hotel site, offering 201 new one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments.
“All current private sector gateway applicants requiring three-person, two-bedroom homes, will have been given the opportunity of a new home at Le Grand Douet in the past two weeks,” said Deputy Mézec.
