Hackney CAB crowdmaps housing benefit shortfalls and threatened evictions

Mapping the problems: Hackney CAB's crowdmap of housing benefit shortfalls and threatened evictions

Hackney Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) has launched an interactive web tool to help map housing benefit shortfalls and threatened evictions across the borough.

In the last year, the number of available properties for rent has fallen, whilst the rate for self-contained accommodation has been cut and and housing benefit available to families has been capped.

With rents soaring and unemployment high, Hackney Citizens’ Advice Bureau advises residents at the sharp end of housing benefit changes and has launched a crowdmap to help it get a better view of what is happening across the whole of Hackney.

The CAB is aware that other London boroughs are looking to relocate housing benefit claimants to cheaper rental areas nationally and is looking into whether Hackney residents have similarly been offered accommodation elsewhere.

The free web tool – the crowdmap – will offer a platform for people affected by changes to anonymously share their experiences, while aiming to provide information and access to further support.

The crowdmap is currently populated with 24 reports from the beginning of 2011 which the CAB says are cause for concern.

Reports include two eviction threats and 22 people left with shortfalls in rent ranging from £25 – 845, with the average deficit of around £285 per month.

One report states a man with physical and mental health problems was left feeling suicidal while searching for £520 to make up his rent.

A mother of three children complained of being £845 a month short of rent and threatened with eviction, while a man sold all his furniture for his deposit but was still left short of £520 a month in rent.

Yet these are not random incidents of vulnerable people– a deaf man was left struggling for rent and a man in his fifties living in a hostel is short of £148 a month for rent.

With homeless statistics normally occupied by middle aged men, worryingly around 42% of the complaints to Hackney CAB received are from women left not having enough money to pay their rent.

Seven people were over £500 a month short and eight between a £100 and £500, and two people searching for accommodation could not find anything suitable, with a man stating average rents being around £180 too expensive for him.

To help plot the change in Hackney, simply go to the crowdmap and tell your story – anybody experiencing difficulties can do so, including organisations or people concerned with the social housing and benefit situation.

Reports can be setup to specifically monitor homelessness, housing benefit shortfall, overcrowded accommodation, rent arrears or threatened eviction.

Go to the Hackney CAB Crowdmap.