More than £700,000 could be spent in Stirling to bring 40 council properties up to scratch to house Ukrainian refugees.
Stirling Council officials say £720,000 has been offered from the Scottish Government’s Ukraine Longer Term Resettlement Fund to bring currently void properties into use for displaced Ukrainians.
And in a report due before full council tomorrow (Thursday), officers also ask councillors to note that, while displaced Ukrainians would be considered ‘persons with specific housing and support needs’ when it comes to housing allocation, the Scottish Government funding would minimise the impact on other people seeking housing.
Of 24,674 Ukrainians who arrived in Scotland as a result of the UK and Scottish Government visa schemes to support those displaced by the war, as of June 5 this year 3,945 remain living in contingency accommodation.
As at June 7, Stirling is home to 329 Ukrainians across 157 households: 63 households (40 per cent) remain in contingency (hotel and serviced apartment) accommodation; with support, 42 households have moved on to their own accommodation (76 per cent private rented; seven per cent temporary homeless; 10 per cent employer provided accommodation); and 52 households (23 per cent) of current guests remain living with sponsors in the community.
Of the guests, 39 per cent individuals; 13.5 per cent families with children aged under 12; 16 per cent families with children and young people aged 12 and over; 13.5 per cent families with children aged under 12 and young people aged 12 and over; and 18 per cent adult only families.
In their report for tomorrow’s council meeting, head of people and community wellbeing Kate Hudson and head of housing Stephen Clark, say: “Sponsors initially had to commit to a six-month period when registering their interest. An additional, national call for new sponsors did not attract significant numbers, and Stirling’s community of sponsoring households has remained fairly static.
“With a few exceptions, breakdowns in the guest-sponsor relationship have been infrequent, however many sponsors are now indicating they are seeking an end to the arrangement.”
The officers acknowledge there are “significant levels of outstanding need for affordable housing in Stirling” with more than 3,389 active housing applicants and homeless households seeking accommodation.
“The turnover and availability of affordable housing is also amongst the lowest in Scotland,” adds the report. “On average, the service is undertaking 40 new homeless assessments per month. A significant increase in Ukrainian households requiring homeless assessment would place additional pressure on the requirement, and General Fund expenditure on, additional temporary accommodation. It would also risk progress on the implementation of actions set out in the council’s Rapid Rehousing Transition Plan.
“There is good, long-standing partnership working between the homelessness and resettlement teams who have so far established a process delivering proactive case management, preventing homelessness by identifying alternative, suitable hosts for guests.
“However, the number of people living with temporary housing arrangements, the continuing war in Ukraine, and the withdrawal of sponsors, is leading to more pressure on housing services.
“Currently two households are in homeless temporary accommodation and three households are in hotel accommodation due to the ending of a guest-sponsor arrangement.”
Void properties, say the officials, could help ease the situation.
“In Stirling there are no social rented properties which sit empty due to lack of demand and none are vacant and subject to demolition.
“However, there are a backlog of void properties which require significant works which are taking longer to relet due to works involved. Works required are often a combination of: kitchen replacement; bathroom replacement; electrical rewire; window replacement; solar panel install; structural alterations; and decoration.
“Extensive works are sometimes required due to a tenant, sometimes, elderly, refusing upgrade works to their property.”
The £720,000 grant sum equates to £18,000 per void property which will be used to part fund or wholly fund voice works plus pay for floor coverings and furniture packs for the properties.
“During 2022/23 the Housing Service let 363 properties and a similar number is likely during 2023/24. Allocating 40 properties would equate to 11 per cent of lets if the same number of council houses are let this year.
“The Housing Service undertook 65 acquisitions during 2022/23 and is targeting 30 acquisitions during 2023/24, providing 31 additional units. As a consequence, there is a significant additional new supply of council housing which will result in reducing any impact on the number of lets made to other households on the housing list.”
