Tag Archives: Homelessness

Croydon short-changed with £600,000 from homelessness fund

On World Homeless Day, the government has announced a £84million cash injection to help councils support rough sleepers and children and families experiencing homelessness this winter. And while London’s 32 boroughs and the City of London are set to receive … Continue reading

Posted in Crisis Skylight Centre, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing, London Councils, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry, Steve Reed MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Council facing High Court challenge over ‘No Access Croydon’

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The Public Interest Law Centre is bringing a Judicial Review against the council claiming it is failing to meet its statutory responsibilities and is acting in a discriminatory manner EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Tory Mayor Jason Perry … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Council told to ‘get a grasp’ over repeat homelessness failures

Ombudsman issues withering criticism of Croydon’s failing council: ‘Sadly this is not an isolated case in the borough’ Mayor Jason Perry’s council has been chastised again by the Ombudsman over its mistreatment of one of the borough’s most vulnerable residents … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Commissioners, Croydon Council, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Stabilisation Plan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Perry repeats lie as he calls meeting over No Access Croydon

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Delayed replies, giving short-notice of an appointment and a divide-and-rule approach betray Mayor’s struggle to justify the closure of the authority’s public area, as librarians are now providing advice to the homeless. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jason … Continue reading

Posted in Andrew Brown, Bernard Weatherill House, Charity, Community associations, Council Tax, Crisis Skylight Centre, Croydon BME Forum, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, South Norwood Community Kitchen, South West London Law Centres | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Mayor Perry lied over access to services at other councils

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Claims made by the chief executive and executive Mayor over how other London boroughs manage their appointments systems have been found to be exaggerated and simply untrue EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Jason Perry has deliberately misled residents … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

No Access Croydon: 30 voluntary groups demand reopening

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Mayor Jason Perry and CEO Katherine Kerswell’s decision to make access to the council’s offices appointment-only may be in breach of the council’s legal responsibilities EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Letters have landed on the desks of Mayor … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Homelessness strategies we’ve had to date have not worked

The government’s homelessness strategy must include plans for long-term funding of services and an Affordable Homes Programme which focuses on providing thousands more social housing. That’s according to some of the leading charities in the sector, who have been expected … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crisis Skylight Centre, Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Kerswell issues warning to staff over ‘verbal abuse’ at council

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Flashpoints between security guards and council staff after just two days of the new appointments-only system at Fisher’s Folly have seen workers told ‘we will not tolerate abuse of any form’. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Within two … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

No Access Croydon: Kerswell closes off Fisher’s Folly to public

CROYDON IN CRISIS: At short notice, the council has announced that there will be no public access to the its offices without an appointment, in the latest cut in services under Mayor Jason Perry. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES The council’s … Continue reading

Posted in 'Future Croydon', Bernard Weatherill House, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

You won’t fix ‘broken window syndrome’ with police on horses

CROYDON COMMENTARY: There are many problems in our town centres, says EMMA GARDINER, but Mayor Perry is going the wrong way about putting them right Croydon’s elected mayor, Jason Perry, recently treated the public to a selfie in the town … Continue reading

Posted in Adult Social Care, Business, Community associations, Croydon BID, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, South Norwood Community Kitchen | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Council claims its housing reforms are beginning to work

Croydon Council claims that reforms of its housing department has seen the authority reduce its costs by £13.5million a year, receive an additional £4.5million in benefit payments, and halve its homelessness assessment waiting times by more than half. The reforms … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crisis Skylight Centre, Croydon Council, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tenants in challenge to Mayor Perry over ‘uninhabitable’ flats

A group of residents placed in what they describe as “uninhabitable” temporary accommodation by Croydon Council have issued their own Christmas message – and a challenge to Tory Mayor Jason Perry. “Change needs to happen now,” says the Croydon Temporary … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, Lynne Hale, Mayor Jason Perry, Norbury, South West London Law Centres, Susmita Sen, Thornton Heath | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Council needs a better plan to help refugees arriving here

CROYDON COMMENTARY: After organising a vigil at Lunar House last night, Councillor RIA PATEL says that this borough needs more help from Whitehall to deal with a homelessness crisis being created by Government Last week in Parliament, the Prime Minister … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Community associations, Fairfield, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Ria Patel | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

‘Teetering on the edge’: Hunt does nothing for local councils

TV politics pundit ANDREW FISHER, pictured right, assesses the fine detail of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, and amid the tax giveaways for the already wealthy, identifies the glaring gaps in financial provision for the NHS, teachers and local authorities like … Continue reading

Posted in 2024 London elections, Andrew Fisher, Council Tax, Croydon Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Council’s striking homelessness staff take their fight to Gove

Senior officials have been accused of deliberately sending in false data on homelessness, potentially costing Croydon as much as £3m per year. By our Town Hall reporter, KEN LEE Council staff working in Croydon’s housing and homelessness department have today … Continue reading

Posted in Community associations, Council Tax, Croydon Council, Dean Shoesmith, Housing, Improvement Board, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Susmita Sen, Tony McArdle | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Nightwatch blocked from feeding homeless by council building

CROYDON IN CRISIS: The volunteers from an award-winning charity have been kicked off the steps of the council’s office building, in case they put off prospective business tenants of the cash-strapped authority. EXCLUSIVE by STEVEN DOWNES Croydon’s £82,000 per year … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Central, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Croydon parks, Housing, Jad Adams, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry, Queens Gardens, Sarah Jones MP | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Housing staff start strike action over latest council job cuts

One of the biggest trades unions representing staff working in the borough has warned Croydon Council that it risks making a bad situation worse if it goes ahead with plans to impose widespread job cuts in its already stretched housing … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, Katherine Kerswell, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

‘Too often councils are failing in their duties’ on homelessness

Two-thirds of all upheld complaints to the Local Government Ombudsman about homelessness involve local authorities in London, including Croydon, according to a report published today. “Too often we are finding councils at fault,” Ombudsman Michael King said today in releasing … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing, London-wide issues, Mayor Jason Perry | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Mayor condemned for ‘cruel’ treatment of street homeless

When other local authorities are looking to provide ‘warm banks’ for the poor and winter shelters for the homeless, Croydon’s cash-strapped council is seizing vulnerable people’s possessions in their effort to tidy up their swanky offices. By STEVEN DOWNES Tory … Continue reading

Posted in Bernard Weatherill House, Charity, Community associations, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Housing, Mayor Jason Perry, Property, South Norwood Community Kitchen, Stuart King | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

20% increase in demand for Crisis services on Surrey Street

It’s a bittersweet anniversary for Crisis, the national homelessness charity. They are marking five years since the opening of Crisis Skylight Croydon, their centre to support homeless people, or those at risk of becoming homeless. Using a a disused furniture … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crisis Skylight Centre, Surrey Street | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Crisis in urgent appeal for volunteer helpers over Christmas

Crisis, the national homelessness charity, is calling on people across London to volunteer at their Christmas services this year to provide companionship and support to people experiencing homelessness at one of the toughest times of year. The charity urgently needs “night … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Crisis Skylight Centre, Housing, London-wide issues | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Survey puts Croydon among worst areas for ‘no-fault’ evictions

Croydon had the highest number of renters made homeless by private landlords in south London over the last two years, according to figures obtained by Generation Rent, the housing campaign group. Figures released this week show that more than 40,000 … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Housing | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Covid pressures could see homelessness soar, warn boroughs

London faces the most severe homelessness crisis in the country, according to the capitals borough councils, as they face a “triple whammy” of upcoming risks over the summer, as lockdown restrictions and special covid-19 emergency aid for the homeless are … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Evolve, Housing, London Councils, Patricia Hay-Justice | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Bankrupt borough could leave homeless out in the cold

CROYDON IN CRISIS: Charity workers express their worries that the consequences of the council’s financial collapse could be felt the hardest by some of the borough’s most vulnerable, ELLA HOPKINS reports At the start of the first coronavirus lockdown in … Continue reading

Posted in Charity, Croydon Council, Croydon Nightwatch, Jad Adams, Section 114 notice | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Housing ministry provides £635,000 for borough’s homeless

The government has given Croydon Council a £635,000 grant to continue its work to tackle homelessness during the pandemic through helping people into accommodation and providing health support. It is possible that some of that money could be used to … Continue reading

Posted in Croydon Council, Housing | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment