Imagine being trapped in a cycle of instability, constantly moving from place to place with no support, all while battling mental health issues and addiction. This is the harsh reality for many vulnerable individuals in Birmingham's unregulated 'exempt' accommodation, a system that's leaving them stranded.
John Freeman's story is a stark illustration. In just four years, he's lived in approximately 30 different 'exempt' accommodations. These properties, designed to provide support, often fail to deliver, leaving residents like John to fend for themselves. This lack of care is a major issue.
Exempt accommodation, a type of housing that's meant to support vulnerable people, has exploded in popularity, especially in Birmingham, which now has around 30,000 units. But what does this mean for the people who live there?
"It's terrible," says John, reflecting on his experiences. "Putting people with mental health problems in a house of people with mental health problems with no supervision is not helping anyone." He continues, "They say they’re going to do this and that, but as soon as they get you in there, they’re not interested. There’s no support, so you just end up moving from place to place. They’re setting people up to fail. The whole thing is just a money-making scheme.”
Pershore Road in Selly Park is a prime example of this problem. A staggering 42% of properties there are now exempt housing, many of which were once student houses. A campaign group estimates that 258 people live in 55 exempt accommodation properties in this small area, making up roughly 12% of the local population.
Landlords are buying up cheap terrace houses, converting them into multi-bedroom properties, and then leasing them to exempt accommodation providers. These providers can then charge higher rents through housing benefits. But here's where it gets controversial: many of these so-called 'supported' houses offer little to no support. John recalls only one weekly check-in, leaving him to navigate a chaotic environment.
Sarah, a 32-year-old, found herself in a similar situation after fleeing domestic abuse. She struggled to sleep due to the constant disturbances. "They shouldn’t be putting us in homes with drug addicts and alcoholics, we’ve all gone through abuse in different ways," she said. This highlights a critical flaw in the system.
Christ Church Selly Park, located across the road, has witnessed the impact firsthand. Volunteers have learned a lot about how exempt accommodation works and why residents are not getting enough support. "Often people will just arrive having been sent here by the authorities, and some of them have literally nothing, just the clothes they’re in and a one-way bus ticket to Pershore Road," says Rev. Ben Green. The church has stepped in to help, providing emergency food and bus tickets, but they recognize their limitations. "We’re mainly just here to try to be nice to people, to love them, but we don’t have experience of social work and, actually, the level of support some people need is far more than we can offer. But then we’re stuck because we know they’re not getting it from somewhere else," says Green.
Chris Hasler, a local resident, points to a two-bedroom family home converted into a seven-bedroom exempt accommodation property. The consequences? A sharp increase in antisocial behavior, including drug dealing and violence. The area is now in the top 10% in the country for crime. This raises serious questions about the long-term impact on the community.
"Two years ago there was none of this sort of stuff on the street but it’s really building up. This is the worry with all these delays to the legislation – there’s a tipping point and then how do you ever get the street back to family homes?" Hasler questions. He emphasizes that while residents are frustrated by the problems these properties bring, their primary concern is for the vulnerable people living there. "These are vulnerable people. They’ve got to live somewhere. But it’s how we manage it. They need to be getting the care for their own benefit and for the benefit of the community," he states.
What do you think? Are you surprised by the lack of support offered in these accommodations? Do you think the current system is sustainable, or does it need a major overhaul? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
