Lettings system hinders homeless

A government scheme to boost choice for social housing tenants
risks forcing homeless people into ghettos, Shelter has said.

In a report out last week, the charity says homeless applicants are
losing out under the choice-based lettings system run by 78
councils.

Under the scheme, people on councils’ housing waiting lists bid for
vacant homes, but Shelter says homeless applicants might be less
able to bid quickly than others on the list.

A Question of Choice finds some councils force homeless people to
accept the first available home or restrict the homes they can bid
for.

The report is available from www.shelter.org.uk.