HOUSING must work closer with the voluntary sector, according to the Sarnia Housing Association.
The association, which offers temporary accommodation to people in need until the Housing Department can find them a permanent home, has said the department needs to listen to its workers to help decide which cases are the most urgent.
‘I would like to see us working much closer because for the tenants I have genuine concerns about, I would like to be able to talk to Housing and move things on a bit faster,’ said association director Margaret Spaargaren.
‘Why can we not meet with Housing, say, every three months? Why can’t the voluntary sector – us, NCH – the children’s charity, the Women’s Refuge and Maison St Pierre – meet the department to discuss those with the most genuine need? They could then be dealt with more quickly.’
Mrs Spaargaren said the association had contacted Housing last year to try to speed up the process for urgent cases. ‘They said they would look at it through their strategy, but nothing has happened,’ she said.
Applicants for housing must have had an address for six months before the department will consider them, which is why the island relies heavily on organisations such as Sarnia Housing to fill the void.
‘Originally it was intended for emergency cover, but we found over the years that the length of time people are staying with us is extending because Housing are not able to move them on quickly,’ said Mrs Spaargaren.
The association owns four properties and can cater for up to 14 families. It currently has 20 on a waiting list. ‘No matter how many we accommodate, more will always be in need,’ Mrs Spaargaren added.
‘We have people come to us who say they are sleeping in a car. We check – and they are. They can’t apply to Housing because they need a permanent address for six months before they can apply.
‘If they had one, they wouldn’t be sleeping in a car. The six months rule is a problem for us and I would like to see it shortened or waived for the most serious cases.’
A spokesman for the department said: ‘The Housing Department recognises the invaluable work of the Sarnia Housing Association in providing temporary accommodation to homeless households.
‘It is disappointed to learn that the association feels the department is not working with them to facilitate the flow of households through the temporary accommodation that the association provides.’
He said a working protocol had been in place for some time that enabled people being accommodated by Sarnia Housing to be given priority. ‘In the last 12 months, eight households have been permanently housed from accommodation provided by the association,’ he said.
‘However, the department has many other priority cases on its waiting list that also need to be accommodated and has to ensure that its allocations are balanced to ensure that other urgent cases are given equal consideration.
‘The department is always willing to sit down and discuss problems with any of the voluntary organisations and will do all that it can to provide practical solutions within the constraints under which it operates.
‘It would welcome the opportunity to meet with representatives of the association to discuss their current concerns.’