Homelessness and Poverty in Bury St Edmunds

I was pleased to see so many people attending the meeting on Poverty and Homelessness in Bury St Edmunds on Friday. It was organised by the Christian Network for Justice and Peace and was very well attended. Representatives from Shelter, Gatehouse, the Borough Council and the Citizens Advice Bureau addressed the meeting. It is clear that while many volunteer organisations have stepped forward to help, after the Borough Closed the Night Shelter so many years go, there is a clear and consistent demand for emergency accommodation. A need that is not being met. According to the Borough Council, while there are over 5,000 people on the housing waiting list there are 146 homeless people in the Borough. Though waiting list is something of a misnomer as the waiting won't do you any good.

I would highlight, however, that these 146 homeless are those identified by the structured processes of the Borough and do not cover those suddenly homeless from family break up and disputes, ruined finances, lost jobs, broken relationships. When children can't cope with family breakup; when parents form new relationships with people their children have problems with and run away should they really be classified as voluntarily homeless?

It was heartening to hear of the work being done by Church's Together; Gatehouse; the YMCA Nightstop service which the Borough acknowledge has proven an invaluable aid that has made a noticeable difference; and the West Suffolk Vineyard Church.

The Borough Council commitment to new housing however, hardly addresses the problem at all, and while Tayfen House provides a structured response, it is no help to people turned out on their 'ear' after a Friday or Saturday night row. For those on low incomes and intermittent work the position is worse as any change in circumstances can lead to an 8 week delay in receiving benefits while the 'correct level of benefit' is recalculated. We ought to be ashamed that we provide such a poor service to those on low incomes that they are often made homeless by the delays in processing change. Yes as a taxpayer we want to make sure our taxes are not abused by benefit cheats, but it should not take 8 weeks to check and make changes. This brings shame on the fourth wealthiest country in the world.

Does the Community of Bury St Edmunds and our surrounding villages really want to desert people in trouble overnight, or should the Borough Council step in and provide the help it doesn't at the moment? Write in and let your views be known.