Housing and homeless organisations in Sheffield have come together to share experiences and ideas to ensure everyone has a place to call home. Shelter, South Yorkshire Housing Association, Roundabout and Crisis were among Sheffield organisations at the event hosted at Theatre Deli to review support for the homeless including accommodation and housing services. Sheffield Live spoke to Tracey Nathan, manager of Shelter Sheffield.
Security firm G4S has lost its Home Office contract to provide housing accommodation to asylum seekers in Yorkshire after a series of scandals and efforts by campaigners to end the arrangement. A new 10-year contracts, worth £1bn, has been awarded by the Home Office to housing and social care provider Mears including responsibility for housing asylum seekers in the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
An exhibition highlighting grass roots campaigns on housing and homelessness is on display at Union Street co-working space. The week long exhibition, led by Dr Sam Burgum, explores the links between poverty, inequality and housing and looks at how squatting, trespass and direct action campaigns have contributed to awareness and action. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
A shipping container has been on display in Sheffield city centre, demonstrating to the public what an affordable home of the future might look like. Fitted out with a compact design including a bed, toilet, kitchen and seating area, container homes are offered as a way to reduce homelessness and improve access to low cost housing. Sheffield Live! reporters Azz Mohammed spoke to Stacy Reed, managing director of My Containers.
Sheffield Council has been told it will not be eligible to borrow additional funding to invest in social housing after having its application to a government scheme rejected. Councillor Jim Steinke, cabinet member for neighbourhoods and community safety, said the rejection is based on old data and the Council is seeking to challenge the assessment. Sheffield South East MP, Clive Betts, told Sheffield Live! the government has got its priorities wrong. Azz Mohammed reports.
A Sheffield-hosted conference on housing conditions for asylum seekers and refugees has called for an end to the outsourcing of contracts to security firms such as G4S. The event, organised by South Yorkshire Migration, Asylum and Action Group, comes amid growing concern over a new £4 billion asylum housing contract. G4S has provided accommodation for asylum seekers in South Yorkshire since 2012, after signing a regional contract, and the company has declared interest in bidding for the new scheme, expected to start in September 2019. A report by the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2017 described living standards in some asylum accommodation as disgraceful, with overcrowding and infestations of vermin. Baillor Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council’s consultation on selective licensing of landlords in the London Road, Abbeydale Road and Chesterfield Road corridors is set to close this week. The plans could see over 1,000 tenants gain extra protections from health hazards as well as better housing conditions if additional regulations are put in place. Landlords have expressed concerns and some claim it would lead to them having to charge more rent. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Jonny Butcher an organiser at Acorn tenants union.
Sheffield Council are set to launch a thirteen week consultation on a new landlord licensing scheme to improve the safety and standard of privately rented homes and how they are managed. The proposals are to include a selective licensing scheme for sections of London Road, Abbeydale Road and Chesterfield Road, after inspections found three in four rented properties in the area had safety issues that were exposing people to serious risk. The council will be asking local landlords, residents, tenants and businesses to comment on the proposals which would affect around 1,000 homes in a four mile stretch. The consultation opens on 27 November and runs for an eight week period. Baillot Jalloh reports for Sheffield Live!
Sheffield Council has committed over £3 million in loan funding to build 1,000 new homes as part of a deal with developer Sheffield Housing Company. The agreement will support new housing in the Manor, Norfolk Park, Parsons Cross and other locations where the Council has land available. Azz Mohammed reports for Sheffield Live!
Planning proposals are to be submitted for phase two of the regeneration of the iconic Park Hill flats housing estate following a public consultation. According to developer Urban Splash a planning application will go ahead towards the end of April with the aim of commencing work in the summer. Sheffield Live! reporter Azz Mohammed spoke to Mark Latham or Urban Splash.