HELP SHAPE HOW SOCIAL HOUSING IS LET IN THE CITY..
Bristol City Council is reviewing the way it lets council and social housing, to ensure that people are housed in homes that meet their needs, giving priority to those in greatest need, and making the application process easier. The review will give the council the opportunity to look at who is housed, and why, and develop options for how to let social housing in the future. They hope to hear from people across the city, including people living in social housing or currently on the waiting list. They will also be working with housing providers and organisations in the advice and voluntary sector. Councillor Tom Renhard, Cabinet Member for Housing Delivery and Homes, said: “We need to take action. There are rising numbers of people becoming homeless and the increasingly unaffordable cost of housing in Bristol is creating more demand for social housing and increasing pressure on HomeChoice Bristol. “The aim is to find the best way to create and support mixed and balanced communities, without disadvantaging those people with the greatest need. 8
“It is vitally important that we get the views of people who are on the waiting list, or have recently been housed, to make sure they agree with what is being proposed following our extensive research phase. “One of our greatest challenges is balancing the very high need for homes in Bristol, against a very limited pool of available properties. We need to make the best use of these properties, and have to manage the expectations of people on the register. “We want to make the housing letting process fair, easy to use and transparent for all who use it and give people choice wherever possible in meeting their housing need.”
IDEAS BEING CONSULTED ON INCLUDE: Moving to a ‘managed choice’ system where the council can be more proactive in helping someone find a home.
