Homelessness

<< Caldmore Area Housing Association | The Growth of CAHAL >>

In the mid 1970s, homelessness and empty houses were a local and national scandal. Walsall South MP, Bruce George, was reported in the Walsall Observer of 21st June 1974 as saying that,

‘In 1973 there were 573 continuously empty houses in Walsall…Last Saturday I went round Caldmore and counted 40 empty houses within ½ a mile. In Emery Street alone there are six empty. This is ridiculous when the problem of housing is becoming acute’.

In 1975, CAHAL was chosen as one of nine housing associations to participate in a scheme to make use of houses that were empty and awaiting demolition or ‘short life’ property. ‘Short-life’ meant housing which did not have ten years of life and which CAHAL did not own. The plan was to undertake essential repairs necessary to make the houses safe, weatherproof and hygienic and let them to people needing short-term temporary or emergency accommodation. ‘Battered wives’ and their children, short-stay tenants, homeless families were all groups who may benefit from such provision. CAHAL received a Housing Association grant (HAG) to cover the cost of repairing ‘short-life’ houses.

This scheme benefited people in need of accommodation and kept families from expensive bed and breakfast provision. It was also good for local communities, as houses did not remain empty to become vandalised and a danger to local children.

Top Back