Insufficient Progress on a Number of Fronts

There has been insufficient progress, since the last election, on a number of fronts, the Tynwald on Poverty has reported.

Chaired by Speaker Juan Watterson, the committee’s report picked up the theme of a ‘housing crisis’ that became a major factor in the 2021 General Election.

The report’s executive summary says that while ‘safe, decent, affordable housing is a part of life many of us take for granted’, there are some on the island who struggle doing so. Although, this is definitely not a Manx only issue, the cost of housing outpacing income is happening across the world.

As well as this, in an interview in October 2023 with Manx Radio, Carl Brew from Housing Matters commented that they were working with 41 people of no fixed abode, most sofa surfing, with a small additional number living in camper vans or tents.

Not having a proper home affects people physically, mentally and financially, as it makes it harder for them to gain access to bank accounts and some benefits.

The report said: ‘There has been insufficient progress, since the last election, on a number of fronts; a lack of growth in local authority housing stock,5 and woefully inadequate progress with recommendations about housing for those leaving care, improving information sharing between government departments and third sector agencies and simplifying benefit application processes to assist service users.’

While the committee did note that there have been recommendations implanted, such as the phased transition of the minimum wage to the Living Wage, freephone gov phone numbers, changes to pension contributions and changes to social security legislation, it said that it remains ‘frustrated by the slow rate at which significant housing and homelessness issues are being addressed’.

It added: ‘ It has taken two years for the administration to produce a homelessness strategy, there has been no tangible progress on the agreed recommendations on the Select Committee on Accommodation for Vulnerable Young People and Landlord and Registration regulations seem no further developed since the election.’

Recommendations 

In total the committee has made 32 recommendations which includes new homes matching UK Future Homes Standard, amending the Landlord Registration (Private Housing) Act to extend it to public sector housing, building at least 100 older persons’ housing units and more support for those leaving care.

You can see the full report and its recommendations here.