Colchester MP vows to tackle housing as child homelessness rises

The number of homeless children in Colchester has increased by more than 100 in the last four years, new data from the Government has revealed.

In Colchester, there were 266 homeless children in March 2020.

This is now 377 homeless children as of March this year, referring to children living in temporary accommodation. 

While nationally, 151,630 children across England were living in temporary accommodation at the end of March this year, up 15 per cent from March 2023 and the highest levels since records began in 2004.

(Image: Newsquest) Fair - Colchester MP Pam Cox said she would fight so the city would get its fair share of any homelessness funding

Colchester’s recently elected MP Pam Cox said: "These new figures show what we already know on the ground which is the housing crisis is hitting people in Colchester.

“Under the last Government everything went up in price including rents and mortgages, leaving many families struggling.

"I know Colchester Council, Colchester Borough Homes and other local organisations are working really hard to help those families in need.

“Unfortunately, we just don't have the genuinely affordable housing we need right now. That's why the new Labour government is prioritising building new homes with the right infrastructure so that people also have the local services they need.

She added: “I have already started working with the council and other local partners so we can deliver the mix of housing we need for people in Colchester.

“I’ll be fighting for Colchester to get its fair share of national funding to support this.”

Manager - Marina Woodrow-Walmsley, manager of Colchester Engagement and Next Steps (CENS)(Image: Submitted)

Colchester Engagement and Next Steps (CENS), formerly known as Colchester Emergency Night Shelter, is a registered charity which has been supporting people who have found themselves homeless for almost 40 years.

It provides emergency accommodation and help to those most in need across Colchester and Essex.

Marina Woodrow-Walmsley, manager of CENS, said that though the charity only deals with single adults aged 18, it is concerned about no-fault evictions and possible age discrimination with Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs).

She said: “We do get a number of calls from families in really difficult situations with no-fault evictions with nowhere to go and nowhere to say.

“We are finding it really difficult to sign-post them to anywhere and this is because since the pandemic, there is nowhere for them to present.

"Us agencies find it hard to contact relevant agencies so I cannot imagine how hard it is for families with.”

Ms Woodrow-Walmsley continued: "CENS relies very heavily on HMOs for our residents, but I do think it's morally wrong to charge a one-bed LHA rate for a room in a shared house.

"We believe the LHA rate should match the accommodation. Only a shared accommodation rate should be paid in an HMO.

"Landlords will likely be paid more by renting out their rooms individually and if they are doing this for financial gain rather than a social conscience, you can understand why.

"Most HMOs will only accept referrals for over 35s as this is when they're eligible for the higher LHA rate.

"Many of the HMOs are managed by agencies and not the landlord so again this is attractive to a landlord as they can be paid without having to take the responsibility of the maintenance and upkeep as this would be undertaken by the agency.

CENS also said that in Colchester, the shared accommodation rate (SAR) is £400.23 4 weekly and the one-bed rate is £623.34 four-weekly. 

Rise - Colchester has seen an increase in homelessness, with 975 reports this year as of July (Image: Newsquest)

It was also revealed last month that Colchester Council has received 975 cases of homelessness presented to the city authority so far this year.

A spokesman for Colchester Council said: “The rising number of homeless children in Colchester is deeply concerning and mirrors a national trend.

“Colchester has seen a significant increase in families facing housing crisis, with many losing their homes in the private rented sector. This has led to a growing number of children living in temporary accommodation.

“Every homeless person’s story is unique, and there can be a variety of reasons for someone finding themselves without a home.

“It’s important to remember that temporary accommodation can take many forms, including hostels, leased properties, and hotels.

"We work hard to minimise the time families spend in B&Bs, but with a shortage of suitable accommodation, it can sometimes mean families spend more than six weeks in hotel accommodation.

“We understand the pressures this can put on families, such as being further away from family support and schools, and we make every effort to prevent or relieve homelessness to avoid a stay in temporary accommodation.

The spokesman said the lack of affordable housing locally is a "significant factor contributing to this crisis".