‘We need a law to define and tackle homelessness’

‘We need a law to define and tackle homelessness’

Citizens Advice Jersey chief executive Malcolm Ferey said that homelessness in the Island was a bigger issue than many people thought. He added that often those who did have a roof over their heads were still living in substandard conditions – and could therefore be considered homeless.

Mr Ferey has been involved in homelessness workshops recently with a view to introducing new legislation to address the matter.

He said it was unlikely that the issue would be properly tackled without new laws being introduced and a clear definition of what homelessness meant being set out.

‘For me the really important thing that came out of the workshops was that you really only achieve anything is if there is legislation around it,’ he said.

‘There is a homelessness issue in Jersey. Either people don’t see it, don’t want to see it or don’t understand it. The problem is it’s hard to define homelessness.

‘For example, if someone is living in accommodation which is completely overcrowded and completely unsuitable for their basic needs, that would be considered, in effect, as homelessness.

‘Most people would consider homelessness to be what we consider visible homelessness, which is people sitting on the streets or in parks and having no roof over their head.

‘But just because you have a roof over your head, it does not mean that you are not homeless.’

He added that Jersey needed to set out its own specific definition of homelessness, as other jurisdictions had, and the needs of individuals needed to be considered as part of this.

‘In the workshop none of us across the group could decide on what homelessness actually was. It is only when you start to really define it then you can really tackle the problem,’ he said.

‘Someone sofa-surfing is homeless – I think everyone can agree that that is the case. But it’s not black and white.

‘Another question could be – is someone living on a houseboat homeless? It depends on their needs. If they have children, then it would not be suitable accommodation for them. On the other hand, it might be their choice to live there.

‘You have to look at their needs and whether where they are living is out of choice or necessity. We have to put in place a robust definition of what is homelessness, specifically for Jersey, and once you can label it then it can be tackled.’

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