Homelessness in West and East of the Borough

As homelessness stalks the unfortunate across the county, it seems that no part of Haringey is immune from the problem. Whilst a Tottenham church shelters 50 homeless men each night, the Hornsey YMCA is tackling the issue locally with an innovative solution.

With the cuts to local authority spending and housing benefit begining to bite deep, the effects on five wards in the east of Haringey have been reported by the New Economics Foundation report, 'Everyday Insecurity: Life at the End of the Welfare State'.

The report tells to story of how the Highway of Holiness community church in Tottenham is giving the destitute a space to sleep and a hot meal. Two years ago there were two homeless men sleeping on the thinly carpeted floor of the church. Recently, there were 50. When winter hits harder and temperatures drop, Pastor Alex Gyasi fears the church will have 90 men crammed into every inch of spare space and he will have to turn people away.

The NEF report argues that the true impact of the cuts is the erosion of day-to-day economic security for everyone.

"The whole notion of a social safety net is being unravelled," said Joe Penny, co-author of the report. "The safety net has so many holes in it now that anyone, no matter how secure they might think they are, can slip through."

Meanwhile in Crouch End, the Hornsey YMCA, is trying an innovative approach to tackle a similar problem. They aim house up to 240 young adults who have been staying at the Tottenham Lane hostel in houses which are currently standing derelict and empty.

The YMCA is looking for homes it can refurbish and let with the owners getting a rental income and a modernised house. Homes which qualify for the scheme will be brought up to the standard needed for them to become rental properties, which means the YMCA will look at re-wiring, re-plumbing, fitting a new bathroom or kitchen and re-decoration.

The scheme is designed to relieve the burden of becoming a landlord while offering secure rental income for as long as the house stays within the scheme.

For more details visit www.emptyhousesintohomes.org.uk or call Nick Anderson on 07841 249 748.

To read more about the NEF report, see today's Guardian article.