ONE CHOICE OF HOME

The city council offers the choice of three suitable properties to people looking for a permanent home but the they are cutting the choice for those in bed and breakfast accommodation to just one. Mark Menzies, the council's assistant director of housing, said, "Over the last 12 months, we've seen a massive increase in the number of registered homeless in the city. By implementing the 'final choice' system, we hope to increase the speed at which we find homes for people." There are 517 people who are registered homeless in the city and only 74 properties available. In April last year there were 187 registered homeless and 181 homes.

The registered homeless figure includes 37 households living in B&B accommodation, to which the council gives priority on the waiting list. They form part of the council's joint housing register of 9,400 people seeking new or alternative council accommodation. The Derby Homefinder scheme allows people to express an interest in three vacant properties from the available housing list. They can then view the homes if the council deems them suitable for the property. But while applications are being processed, homes which have been offered are removed from the list. The council believes this reduces the chances of other people on the register finding a suitable home.

By offering one home, the council believes it will be able to house people more quickly. If the offer is rejected, the homeless person will lose their high priority status. There are no plans to change the three-home choice system for non B&B applicants. The council spent £80,000 on B&B accommodation between April 1 and July 15. Its annual budget for such accommodation is only £32,175. Philip Hickson, deputy leader of the council, said, "Regrettably we need to change the system and review it in 12 months to see how it's operating."