Continuing cost-of-living pressures mean that more and more members of the community are coming to the councils for housing help. The councils have joined other local authorities to lobby the government to provide extra financial support to deal with increasing housing costs.

The councils have an acute shortage of temporary accommodation for locals who would otherwise have nowhere to sleep at night. They are currently having to house more than 450 Adur and Worthing households, of which more than 250 are having to sleep outside the district and borough. 

The councils are building their own temporary accommodation but also need to find more privately-owned local properties to use.

Some residents are having to be housed many miles away because of the lack of homes for them, which makes it more difficult for them to hold down jobs and get the support of their friends and families. This can cost the councils up to £200 per household per night. 

The increasing cost to the councils of housing residents is having a severe impact on their budgets. Using new sites like those being considered in Worthing and Littlehampton would significantly reduce the amount the councils have to spend, saving hundreds of thousands of pounds a year that could be invested in other services for the community while also allowing the residents to stay in or at least near their home town.

The properties would be for single people and would have on-site managers during office hours and security visits around the clock. The first ones could be occupied next month.

Cllr Carson Albury, Adur’s cabinet member for Adur Homes and customer services, said: “We urgently need to find more accommodation for the increasing number of our residents who are coming to us needing to be housed.”

Cllr Emma Taylor-Beal, Worthing’s cabinet member for housing and citizen services, said: “Making sure everyone has a roof over their head at night is our priority. We’re determined to house our citizens as close to their families and friends as possible.”

The Joint Strategic Committee of Adur & Worthing Councils agreed to the proposal at its public meeting at the Shoreham Centre yesterday (Thursday 7th December).

To read the full report visithttps://democracy.adur-worthing.gov.uk/documents/s11670/2023.12.07%20-%20JSC%20-%20Agenda%20item%209%20-%20EHTA.pdf.