More emergency housing needed, charity says

Sue Le Friec, from Guernsey Welfare Service, said a shortage of emergency housing meant the charity had given tents to some rough sleepers

More emergency housing is needed across Guernsey, a charity has said.

Some people have had to live in tents or cars due to housing pressures, the Guernsey Welfare Service (GWS) said.

Sue Le Friec, from GWS, said a shortage of emergency housing meant the charity had given tents to some rough sleepers. She said it was "very sad that we've come to this".

In 2023, as part of its Indicators of Poverty report, the States of Guernsey estimated more than 1,000 men, women and children were insecurely housed - an increase of about 50% since 2016. The States of Guernsey said "solutions are being worked towards".

Mrs Le Friec said "it would be great if there was more emergency housing" but the charity recognised "it was not a quick and easy solution".

She said: "There's such an increase in the number of people who do find themselves in this situation for a number of reasons and often it's beyond their control.

"Clearly if someone is sleeping rough and they really don't have any shelter at all then we'll do whatever we can to try and help keep them warm and safe at night."

Sue Le Friec said "a listening ear" could be as important as a shower or some food to homeless people

GWS provides showers and clothes washing facilities, food and drink from its drop-in centre in St Peter Port.

It said it needed donations of tents, sleeping bags and essential items such as disposable razors and deodorant.

Another housing charity, Sarnia Housing Association, said high demand for emergency housing meant it often had to make "difficult decisions".

It said it had 14 emergency flats and bedsits but the long waiting list meant only people in "desperate situations" such as those "about to become homeless with young children" were being prioritised.

'Pick one family'

Jane Le Conte, the charity's accommodation manager, said: "I've got three families on my list at the moment who are urgently in need of housing.

"I may have a flat come up... [and] I've got to pick one of those families. It's a really difficult job."

Mrs Le Conte said an "increasing number of landlords" were refusing to take families with children and "some of the private rental accommodation out there is not of a good standard".

She called for a "comprehensive review" of emergency housing on the island.

'Demand and pressures'

A joint statement from Employment and Social Security (ESS) and Environment and Infrastructure (E&I) said: "The States of Guernsey is acutely aware of unmet demand and pressures across all tenures of housing, and the impact this has on people’s lives while the solutions are being worked towards.

"Delivering housing units to meet this need is the top priority of government and the ESS is doing all it can to progress the options available for those who are eligible for social rental housing.

"Emergency housing is meant as a temporary solution to assist those in immediate need. As such, the provision of additional emergency housing must be placed within the wider context of the island’s housing needs."

It said ESS was aiming to quantify the scale of homelessness in Guernsey, create a definition of homelessness and to increase support for homeless people and people at risk of homelessness.

Ed Ashton, director of operations, Social Security and Inclusion, said: "While we cannot comment on individual cases, Social Security does not arrange for, or encourage, individuals to live in tents."

Mr Ashton said anyone "at risk of becoming homeless" should reach out to Social Security to discuss their options.

He added: "If anyone informs Social Security that they are living on, or moving to, a campsite and they are eligible for income support, they may qualify for financial support."