A council housing shortage has made it more difficult to support low-income families in Islington, according to a Bunhill councillor.
Valerie Bossman-Quarshie said housing issues are the most common complaints from residents during flat visits and ward surgeries, with families usually needing to “wait for weeks, months or even years to get their problems fixed.”
The situation is exacerbated by the ongoing council home shortage as “the housing demand is far beyond the capacity”.
Among more than 15,000 households waiting on Islington Council’s housing register, only ten per cent get housed each year and less than half of the council-owned properties have more than one bedroom.
“Larger families usually require bigger housing space and mental health issues can also affect residents with moving or getting appropriate accommodations. People all have complex needs and it’s often difficult to provide support immediately,” Ms Bossman-Quarshie said.
Jack*, who lives in a council flat near the Moorfield Eye Hospital with his wife and children, said: “We have three children so it’s five people living here. And it’s a one-bed flat so we have to sleep on the floor all the time.”
“We have asked so many times to move over the past year, but no one listened,” he said, “This is frustrating.”
Ms Bossman-Quarshie said “it’s very important that residents are living in suitable accommodations so they can be happy and function well”.
“Unfortunately, there’s no easy fix to the housing shortage,” she added.
*Name has been changed
