I have just been listening to the Mayor of Watford saying there is a huge increased problem of homelessness in her area and that they are being forced to once again put people into bed and breakfast accommodation.
In most areas there are a large number of empty rooms in houses where a single pensioner is living. We are pensioners and rent out a room to a lodger. It is more daunting to do this if you are just one person, but, with the backing of the Council, perhaps some of these people would be willing to take in lodgers. There would be benefits for them, for they would have the reassurance of not being alone at night, and, in exchange for keeping the rent low, (after all, any rent at all would be a useful improvement to their present situation) they could expect some specified help in, for example, shopping or gardening or also just odd things like replacing a light-bulb in a high-up spot. I know that a large proportions would, at first at any rate, shy away from the idea of having someone else in their home, but I do believe that this idea could grow and it could even become the norm and contribute to well-being in the society. We have no car, and our lodger collects heavy things for us or takes things to the dump, very willingly.
This venture could be put into effect quite quickly as long as there was no nonsense about people having a "right" to en suite bathrooms etc. I think it could be assumed that, if the accommodation is safe enough for the pensioner to live it it could provide space, without any modifications, for a lodger.
Councils already have Housing Departments. This could add a rather pleasant, positive aspect to their workload.
This blog is a plea for common sense in public policy. Our leaders don't seem to have any. They just make daft rules for us to follow. We need to assert our right to use our own good sense instead of ticking boxes which can only say 'yes' or 'no'.
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