No more B&B

ALL the homeless families who were living in bed and breakfast accommodation in the borough have been successfully rehoused by the council.

The beleaguered local authority has beaten Government targets by one year and claims it is now committed to ensuring that no homeless children live in B&Bs in the future.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister set authorities throughout the country a target to rehouse all families with children or pregnant mothers outside B&Bs before April 2004.

The council is one of only four London boroughs to hit the milestone early.

Cllr Loretta Hodges, cabinet member for housing, said: "This is a wonderful achievement which demonstrates the overall quality and efficiency of our housing department.

"This was a tough target to meet, but to achieve it one year early shows our commitment to improving services for homeless families.

"It is very much the result of the dedication and professionalism of our staff, who have put innovative schemes in place to ensure alternative housing is available."

This includes the development of a private sector leasing strategy, Forest Lettings. Under the arrangement the council uses properties belonfing to private landlords and rents them to homeless families.

In August last year, Waltham Forest had 65 families living in B&B accommodation. Most had been there for more than six weeks. By December this was cut to 12 families.

The re-housing has been achieved despite a rise in the number of homeless families seeking accommodation from the council.

In 2002/03, roughly 1,200 homeless applications were accepted, a peak not previously seen since the early 1990s.

15:13 Friday 11th April 2003

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