Letters to local politicians re Norwich City Council Housing Options policy and problem of loneliness and hardship for the elderly

 I wrote the letter below to several local politicians and this was their responses, also see below

My MP, Chloe Smith, Conservative, Norwich North = NO REPLY beyond automatic response

My three LABOUR Councillors for Catton Grove ward on 11th July 2022
Mike Stonard: NO REPLY
Paul Kendrick:  referred to Gail Harris, Housing Committee
Gail Harris: Initially no reply, then I chased her up on 10 Augustand she replied on 11th:
"Dear Mr Buffry,
"I receive a considerable number of emails each day and I am sorry that I missed this one.
"I will talk to my Housing Options manager about the points that you raise.
"Kind regards
"Gail"

Norwich Green Party via their Facebook page 12 August:  I received a reply from "Gawain":
"Hello Alun, Thank you for your message, I have passed it onto our city councillors. They asked if you are happy to share your email address or telephone number with them , so that they can discuss this with you further? All the best Gawain

The letter (with slight variations, also sent to Letters to the Editor, Evening News, Norwich.  It was published a few days later.

I am concerned about Norwich City Council's social housing options policy.

I read about Government and other concern about loneliness amongst the elderly, many of who are forced to live alone due to Norwich City Council's housing policies.

I understand that two bedroom bungalows and two bedroomed ground floor flats are reserved for families and not available for the elderly, as a matter of policy.

Those families could be housed in upper storey flats or houses, whereas older people often have problems with stairs or noise made by tenants of flats above or below them.

Many elderly people may had lost a partner and suffer from living alone, even if they are still physically capable or have home helpers.  They would surely benefit from being allowed to share two bedroomed accomodation?

I am asking you to look into this policy and try to change it.  I realise there may be a shortage of two bedroomed bungalows but it seems senseless to give them to families rather than elderly friends or companions.

In addition of course those elderly people who may have to live along are paying more in energy bills, TV licenses, phone and internet services and probably food bills, often out of their only income which is their pensions.

Alun Buffry

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RFSPONSES

Dear Alun,

 Thanks for getting in touch with this proposal. I will contact the housing team in the first instance to see what their stance is. I would assume that achieving what you set out below would mean that there would have to be facility for two people to apply together for two-bed bungalows without family status.

 Councillor Jamie Osborn, Mancroft Ward (Green Party)

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Dear Alun

I am sure that Cllr Harris as the Cabinet member for Social Housing, and your ward councillor will get back to you with a response.

Kind regards

 Adam Giles, Crome Labour City Councillor,Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing

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Dear Mr Buffry,

 I am sorry for the delay in responding to your email.

 The following information is relevant to your enquiry:

 Norwich is an area of very high housing need and one of the stated aims of Home Options policy is to make best use of Norwich’s limited social housing stock. 

 The council has an extremely limited supply of two-bedroom bungalows, with only 150 in stock and these becoming available only infrequently.  Such properties are in extremely high demand, particularly as they are likely to be adapted or able to be adapted for occupation by families with disabled household members.  Therefore, in terms of meeting housing need, it is important that we are able to optimise occupation of scarce two-bedroom bungalows to those families in the most need of ground floor living and adaptations.  

 By contrast, sheltered housing, much of it adapted to meet accessibility need, is in relative plentiful supply in Norwich, with well over 1000 properties across 33 schemes available only to the over 60s through Home Options landlords alone, and many other properties available through other housing providers and charities.  

 Our sheltered schemes are made up of groups of flats or bungalows specially designed for people over the age of 60 who are able to live independently, but who would benefit from additional security and support. Features of the schemes include a 24-hour emergency alarm system, access to a dedicated support officer, communal facilities such as a lounge, kitchen and laundry available on most schemes, opportunities to join in a range of social activities and events and a guest room where family or friends may stay for a small charge.

 This means that if elderly people are seeking affordable, independent accommodation with access to communal areas and activities,  there are numerous housing options available to them.   Any client who is over the age of 60 and has any kind of issue with the suitability of their accommodation, including social isolation, ill health or accessibility, would therefore be in a relatively strong position to be able to move to suitable sheltered or older persons' accommodation through the Home Options scheme or other providers without the need to draw on high demand family accommodation. 

 Further information about the council's sheltered accommodation for over 60s can be found at our website, www.norwich.gov.uk.   Any resident interested in applying for sheltered accommodation through the Home Options scheme should call us on 0344 980 3333 to speak to a specialist adviser.  Please be assured that one to one assistance is available to clients who are not confident with technology or don't have access to the internet.

 Other providers of sheltered housing in Norwich who do not allocate their properties through the Home Options scheme would need to be contacted direct.  The largest of these are Norwich Housing Society on 01603 625078, Doughty’s (Norwich Consolidated Charities) on 01603 621857, Anchor/ Hanover Housing on 0808 102 4069 and Housing 21 on 0370 192 4000.  

 Kind Regards

 Gail

 Cllr Gail Harris , Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social Housing, Labour Group,Catton Grove Ward