ALABARÉ Young People Client Turned Volunteer Shares Her Story of Social Housing Backlog
Chloe, a former ALABARÉ client who now volunteers for us, has been speaking about how social housing waiting lists are damaging young people’s mental and physical health.
Chloe, a former ALABARÉ client who now volunteers for us, has been sharing her story to highlight how significant social housing waiting lists are damaging young people’s mental and physical health.
A report by partner charity, Centrepoint, has found that more than 130,000 young people are currently registered to apply for social housing.
48% of those require a one-bedroom property, but that only accounts for less than a quarter (24%) of the national social housing stock, creating a backlog that would take over six years to clear.
‘It gives you false hope’
Chloe came to ALABARÉ when she was 21, having been sofa surfing and sleeping rough following financial abuse by a family member.
She’s spoken to the Independent’s reporter, Albert Toth, about her experiences of being homeless, and the indignity of being on the social housing wait list.
Chloe told the nation’s largest digital newspaper that it was difficult to ‘prove’ that she was homeless, and it affects the mental health of others in a similar situation:
“To have to prove you are sleeping on the street… You lose every sense of self-respect possible. It can be the tipping point for a lot of people.”
She also explained that the process of bidding for social housing can be soul-destroying:
“When you bid, it goes live at midnight on Wednesday. You stay up late because you want to see your position.
“It was telling me I was second in a queue, and then I’d wake up the next morning, and I’m 43rd. How does that happen? It gives you false hope when your mental health is already at rock bottom.”
Now aged 25, Chloe has moved on from ALABARÉ’s Young People supported accommodation at Sarum House in Andover and successfully into independent living within a private rental flat.
She also volunteers with ALABARÉ, supporting Young People Wellbeing activities such as cooking sessions, bike maintenance, bushcraft, Tall Ships sailing and cultural visits.
She says that it has been a boost to both the clients and for her own welfare:
“As a volunteer, seeing the guys flourish and their confidence grow, it builds me up seeing them do so well. From the perspective that I was in their shoes at one time, and now I’m helping them be unapologetically themselves, it’s just incredible.”
Government housing targets should reflect need
In the last Budget, Labour pledged to invest £39 billion into building 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and an additional 180,000 social homes over the next decade to tackle the risk of homelessness and increase affordability.
ALABARÉ is calling for the Government to maintain those targets, but ensure the properties created better fit the needs of those on the social housing register, to help clear the backlog and reduce the stress for those working towards independent living.
James Tomlinson, Director of Strategic Communications, said:
“We’re so proud of how Chloe has managed her journey from homelessness, through ALABARÉ Young People services and into independence, while also choosing to give back to the charity that’s helped her so much. It’s important that she shares her story to really shine a light on the homelessness crisis that’s particularly affecting young people.
“ALABARÉ is also keen to work alongside the Government and local authorities to assess the social housing need and ensure the properties can better clear the backlog.”
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