THE future of Sheltered Housing Schemes is in danger, unless the government acts to stop their funding being cut, the UK Pensioners Strategy Committee is warning.
Betty Martin, co-chair of the UK Pensioners Strategy Committee, has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown asking him for a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer ‘as to whether he will act to stop the removal of the Wardens’.
A previous letter was passed on to another department.
David Young, also from the Pensioners Strategy Committee, said: ‘This dangerous situation was caused by a Labour government policy.
‘It was they who removed the ring fence from money which funds the wardens.
‘This has given councils across the UK the freedom to raid the funds and use it for other projects.’
He said: ‘Gordon, we pensioners demand an answer. Will you stop the removal of the Sheltered Housing Wardens? Stop ignoring us and give us a “yes’’ or “no’’ answer – or we will ignore you, come election time.’
The campaign is supported by the GMB and Unison trade unions.
In her letter to Gordon Brown (with copies to the leaders of the Tories and Liberals, the Mayor of London, the press, TV and radio), Betty Martin writes: ‘On 8 April 2010 Donna Brandford-Adams of the Department for Communities and Local Government responded to the letter which I had written to you dated 22nd March 2010.
‘I do appreciate that you are very busy, and going through a tense election period.
‘However, the issue of the removal of Resident Sheltered Housing Wardens is extremely important, because their removal is putting the lives of 500,000 sheltered housing tenants in danger, and is not cost effective for the tax payer.
‘This is why I have asked you not to pass my query to other departments, but to respond in person.
‘The key question was and still is this. On the eve of the general election we are asking you again to take action to stop councils removing Resident Sheltered Housing Wardens, and where the warden service has been cut to ensure that it is reinstated.
‘With respect, I have asked you for a yes or no answer as to whether you are prepared to do this. Again I am asking you to reply personally.
‘Prime Minister, recently Havering Council removed the Resident Sheltered Housing Warden of Queen Street Villas Sheltered Housing Scheme in Romford.
‘The Warden was replaced by a mobile Warden Service which visits the sheltered scheme three days a week for approximately one hour.
‘One hundred per cent of the tenants indicated that they did not want this service, but they were ignored by the council who went ahead with their dangerous plan regardless of tenants’ wishes.
‘The change in service has caused one tenant to be left on the floor for over nine hours before being found by a relative, and not the mobile Warden.
‘This is one example of how the removal of Resident Wardens has put the elderly at risk; and this is happening all over the United Kingdom.
‘Prime Minister, your government’s policy of removing the ring fence from funding that pays for the Resident Wardens has allowed councils like Havering to raid the funds and replace the Resident Wardens with a far inferior service.
‘It is the action of your government that has caused this problem.
‘As the country’s leader will you take this opportunity to put this situation right by making a commitment to stop the removal of Resident Sheltered Housing Wardens and reinstating the service where it has been removed?
‘Pensioners from across the UK who have heard about our “No Wardens, No Votes” campaign are asking us to advise them on which party to vote for to save their wardens.
‘I do not see how we can advise them to vote Labour, as it is the Labour Government that has caused this problem, and has so far not acted to prevent the removal of Resident Wardens or reinstate the ones that have been removed.
‘Prime Minister, I am going to press release this letter, the response letter from Donna Brandford-Adams, and my letter to you dated 22nd March, this week.
‘I humbly await your reply and I am sure you will do the right thing to protect pensioners across the United Kingdom.’
In a reply to her first letter, Donna Brandford-Adams, from the Department for Communities and Local Government, Housing Care and Support Division, told Betty Martin: ‘Thank you for your letter of 22 March to the Prime Minister about the Supporting People programme.
‘Your letter has been passed to this Department and I have been asked to reply as I work in the team with responsibility for the Supporting People programme.
‘I note your comments about the changes to warden support arrangements in some sheltered housing schemes, and the implications that such changes might have.
‘The Government recognises the provision of support to older people in sheltered housing as an important and complex matter.
‘In early 2009 the Department convened a working group to identify ways to make a positive difference to the lives of people living in sheltered housing, now and in the future.
‘The working group brought together representatives of sheltered housing residents, providers and service commissioners and in January 2010 they produced three reports, published on 29 January 2010.
‘The reports are available at:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/supportandadaptations/housingolder/shelteredhousinggroup/.
‘I should explain that the provision of specialist housing, such as sheltered housing and associated support services for older or vulnerable people is the responsibility of local authorities and/or service providers, such as housing associations, who must organise and provide services in accordance with local needs and priorities.
‘This can involve changes to existing services, including sheltered housing.
‘It can often be the case that suggestions and views about how best to organise or make changes to local services will differ within or between local communities.
‘The Government consider these to be local matters, which are best dealt with by local authorities.
‘The removal of the ring fence from the Supporting People grant, on 1 April 2009 supports the Government’s clear commitment to provide authorities with greater flexibility over their funding.
‘However, we would expect local authorities to consult and communicate any changes they were considering making to the support services in their area.
‘You may be aware that the recent Select Committee report into the Supporting People programme and the implications of removing the ring fence made a number of recommendations.
‘The report welcomed the devolution of decision making on local matters to local authorities and can be viewed at:
http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/housing/goodpractice/Supportingpeople/spreview09/Pages/supportingpeoplereview2009report.aspx.
‘Our response to the report published in January 2010, explains that the Government considered that local authorities and their strategic partners are best placed to make decisions about local spending priorities.
‘In our response we have said that a cross Whitehall Committee should consider the Committee’s recommendations about sheltered housing.
‘A copy of our response can be viewed at:
http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm77/7790/7790.pdf.
‘I hope you find this helpful.’
Donna Brandford-Adams
Housing Care and Support Division
