Deaths and test results
There have been a further EIGHT positive test results announced today. That is the largest single day number since 27th May and brings the cumulative total number of cases in the City to 1008.
During the week of 31st Aug – 6th Sept, the worst affected neighbourhoods were Strensall, Heslington/Wheldrake & Skelton/Clifton Without.
The Woodthorpe/Acomb Park/Foxwood neighbourhood is no longer showing a spike in numbers.
There have been no further hospital deaths.
The Council is considering making further help available to Council tenants who find themselves in financial difficulty as a result of the heath crisis.
A report to a meeting next week says, “Along with a sympathetic and supportive approach to rent and arrears collecting the hardship fund will enable substantial (up to £500 in most cases) help to individuals and families that most need it.
The cumulative impact of reduced public spending and welfare reform including the roll out of Universal Credit has seen an increase in rent arrears in York over the last few years.
The impact of the CV19 pandemic has exacerbated this with arrears rising at £20k per week.
As lockdown restrictions are lifted it is expected that many will return to work and obtain financial stability. There has been an increase in Universal Credit claims and delays of up to 8 weeks in processing these.
The hardship fund – which will be paid for out of the housing revenue account – will cost £80,000.
The council has already refunded the first 13 weeks of the annual rent increase for 2020 / 2021 to anyone who did not have this covered by increases in welfare benefit.
Details of the fund can be found by clicking here
The report into homelessness in York – which slightly mysteriously disappeared from a recent meeting agenda – has finally been published.
The report covers the last financial year. It reveals that the number of rough sleepers had reduced from 9 to 7 when the annual census was completed last November. However, the new COVID measures meant that that number had reduced further to 2 by the end of March.
The number of households leaving in temporary accommodation also reduced from 66 to 62 while none had been accommodated in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for over 6 weeks. The numbers presenting to the Council as homeless increased from 61 to 99.
There were 1597 households on the housing waiting list at the end of the year. The numbers have remained static for several years.
A copy of the full report can be read by clicking here
It markedly fails to mention the number of empty Council properties in the City or what is being done to reduce void times. 286 homes became available for re-letting last year compared to 284 the previous year.
The number of new build affordable houses also increased (see table)
Homelessness is likely to increase in the City as unemployment increases in the wake of the health crisis. This may be exacerbated as the rent freeze also comes to an end.
