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I'm not entirely sure what the UK is doing differently. I didn't even notice that it "wasn't there" until I got back. It was only after I returned that I real

by AlexC04 16y ago

I'm not entirely sure what the UK is doing differently. I didn't even notice that it "wasn't there" until I got back. It was only after I returned that I realized the difference. I know that in Toronto, I sometimes get the feeling that the streets are paved with the homeless. Maybe it was the Socioeconomic status of the area I was living in, but it just seems so much more prevalent here. The UK does however seem to have 'council housing' projects that I think act as a buffer for many. The jobless and those on very low income, can obtain housing from the local council (municipal government). Essentially the risk of becoming completely homeless was very low. The only reference to their housing program I could find quickly was an article about why landlord shouldn't take DSS tennants http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/reasons-why-landlords-shouldnt-accept-dss-tenants/ http://www.propertyinvestmentproject.co.uk/blog/reasons-why-... But essentially it's a program where the municipality pays the rent directly. I think the level of social assistance must cover quite a bit of the difference. I really must add the caveat that I didn't study the problem while I was in the UK and am certain that there must be some homelessness there somewhere - but - it really isn't anything like what's in Toronto (and Ottawa that I've seen).

petercooper 16y ago
The UK has quite the shortage of council/social housing so someone who is homeless tomorrow would struggle if it were not for "crisis" loans and housing benefit. Housing benefit pays the median market rate for a property in your area for you if your income is low enough. If your rent is cheaper, you can even keep a small amount of the overpayment.
willyt 16y ago
A council house in the UK is a dwelling that is provided by the local municipal authority. Rents are about 1/2 to 1/3 of the lowest market rent. They are generally set by the local council. In addition to this you can receive housing benefit to pay most of this if you are out of work, the rules for this are quite complicated. The concept dates back to postwar reconstruction in the 1950s when they were originally built at a large scale to replace bomb damaged and run down private 'slum' housing. I think I remember a lecturer saying that in the 1970's as much as 60% of the British population lived in council houses. In the 1980's Margaret Thatcher introduced 'right to buy' legislation which forced local councils to offer tenants the opportunity to buy their council house for well below the market value. This lead to a large decline in the number of people living in council houses. I think the proportion is more like 20% of the UK population now. There has been a big cultural shift in Britain in the last 30 years; living in a council house was considered 'normal' but is now stigmatised. The quality of the accommodation can vary widely. http://bit.ly/c3JuFb http://bit.ly/c3JuFb http://www.flickr.com/groups/londonsocialhousing/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/londonsocialhousing/ Council houses are not always in housing estates ('projects' in US) they can be normal houses intermingled with private housing that just happen to be owned by the council and rented out to council tenants. However this is rare now because of the 'right to buy' There is a shortage of council housing, if you want to get one you have to be assessed as being in need of one and you go on a waiting list. Your position on the waiting list is based on points. The points are allocated based on criteria like: how long you've been waiting; how many kids you have; if you are being threatened; if you have disabilities etc. By the way, I'm not totally sure about the percentage figures, they are based on a memory from a lecture about 10 years ago. I'll try and find some references to back them up.
- buro9 16y ago
  I've been homeless in the UK, and have slept on the streets too. I also now live in council housing in London. Ask me anything.
- parenthesis 16y ago
  Here in Scotland, our Parliament recently voted to end the 'right to buy': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11675185 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11675185 Incidentally, I live in an ex-council flat, which was 'right to buy'ed by a previous owner. In the whole block of 30 or so flats, very few are still council-owned.

by AlexC04 16y ago

petercooper 16y ago

The UK has quite the shortage of council/social housing so someone who is homeless tomorrow would struggle if it were not for "crisis" loans and housing benefit. Housing benefit pays the median market rate for a property in your area for you if your income is low enough. If your rent is cheaper, you can even keep a small amount of the overpayment.

willyt 16y ago

A council house in the UK is a dwelling that is provided by the local municipal authority. Rents are about 1/2 to 1/3 of the lowest market rent. They are generally set by the local council. In addition to this you can receive housing benefit to pay most of this if you are out of work, the rules for this are quite complicated. The concept dates back to postwar reconstruction in the 1950s when they were originally built at a large scale to replace bomb damaged and run down private 'slum' housing. I think I remember a lecturer saying that in the 1970's as much as 60% of the British population lived in council houses. In the 1980's Margaret Thatcher introduced 'right to buy' legislation which forced local councils to offer tenants the opportunity to buy their council house for well below the market value. This lead to a large decline in the number of people living in council houses. I think the proportion is more like 20% of the UK population now. There has been a big cultural shift in Britain in the last 30 years; living in a council house was considered 'normal' but is now stigmatised. The quality of the accommodation can vary widely. http://bit.ly/c3JuFb http://bit.ly/c3JuFb http://www.flickr.com/groups/londonsocialhousing/ http://www.flickr.com/groups/londonsocialhousing/ Council houses are not always in housing estates ('projects' in US) they can be normal houses intermingled with private housing that just happen to be owned by the council and rented out to council tenants. However this is rare now because of the 'right to buy' There is a shortage of council housing, if you want to get one you have to be assessed as being in need of one and you go on a waiting list. Your position on the waiting list is based on points. The points are allocated based on criteria like: how long you've been waiting; how many kids you have; if you are being threatened; if you have disabilities etc. By the way, I'm not totally sure about the percentage figures, they are based on a memory from a lecture about 10 years ago. I'll try and find some references to back them up.

buro9 16y ago
I've been homeless in the UK, and have slept on the streets too. I also now live in council housing in London. Ask me anything.
parenthesis 16y ago
Here in Scotland, our Parliament recently voted to end the 'right to buy': http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11675185 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-11675185 Incidentally, I live in an ex-council flat, which was 'right to buy'ed by a previous owner. In the whole block of 30 or so flats, very few are still council-owned.