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THREAD: The scandal of Bristol's supported housing, benefit farming, dodgy charities, Wick House, Franklyn Street, St Pauls & the efforts by @KerryMP to change the law to stop more scandals.
Full story first off, here
, pls read & pls do RT https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/no-more-wick-houses-supported-4691619
Full story first off, here
, pls read & pls do RT https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/no-more-wick-houses-supported-4691619
What happened at Wick House was shocking. It was even more shocking that nothing much could be done about it.
The much missed @InsideOutWest & much missed @Michael_Yong did major investigations. Here's a round up from Michael in late 2018. Have a read https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/full-story-behind-wick-house-2238894
The much missed @InsideOutWest & much missed @Michael_Yong did major investigations. Here's a round up from Michael in late 2018. Have a read https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/full-story-behind-wick-house-2238894
People who need extra support in life - they may have mental health issues, addictions etc - are entitled to extra housing benefit which will pay for more than just a place to live. It's supposed to pay for extra support.
As @KerryMP told MPs yesterday, it's ripe for exploitation
As @KerryMP told MPs yesterday, it's ripe for exploitation
Dozens of people in need of extra support lived at Wick House in Brislington. It was so bad there, the council & other homeless/housing charities wouldn't refer people to it.
At least 7 people died there, including George Mahoney https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/man-dies-wick-house-bristol-2060157
At least 7 people died there, including George Mahoney https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/man-dies-wick-house-bristol-2060157
Paul Way died there, and his body wasn't found for days.
The 'support' the residents were receiving was pretty much non-existent. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/man-found-dead-wick-house-2149089
The 'support' the residents were receiving was pretty much non-existent. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/man-found-dead-wick-house-2149089
The 'charity' that ran Wick House was just a benefit farming operation.
It wasn't the only one in Bristol either.
Let me introduce Alternative Housing, ran by a couple of blokes from Easton. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-housing-charity-named-uks-47237
It wasn't the only one in Bristol either.
Let me introduce Alternative Housing, ran by a couple of blokes from Easton. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-housing-charity-named-uks-47237
They were regularly in court, being prosecuted by @BristolCouncil for the state of their houses.
This only really came to light because of the landlord licensing & beefed up inspections introduced by @MarvinJRees & @housingpaul in 2016. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/truth-behind-shocking-state-rented-2340073
This only really came to light because of the landlord licensing & beefed up inspections introduced by @MarvinJRees & @housingpaul in 2016. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/truth-behind-shocking-state-rented-2340073
Alternative Housing took the extra benefits for people needing supported housing, but actually provided substandard properties, and no extra support.
After discovering the state of one place within the first landlord licensing place, worried council inspectors looked at the rest
After discovering the state of one place within the first landlord licensing place, worried council inspectors looked at the rest
The story of Jorge Rias, who died in one of Alternative Housing's properties in St Pauls, is just simply horrible.
Have a read of it here: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/death-shames-whole-bristol-exposes-6647
Have a read of it here: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/death-shames-whole-bristol-exposes-6647
Supported housing isn't really inspected - only by housing inspectors looking at things like HMO & fire regs.
The actual 'support' part isn't checked up on much.
That's what @KerryMP's new bill would introduce. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/no-more-wick-houses-supported-4691619
The actual 'support' part isn't checked up on much.
That's what @KerryMP's new bill would introduce. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/no-more-wick-houses-supported-4691619
. @KerryMP makes a good point too here. There's many decent Supported Housing providers in Bristol who won't be worried by being inspected/regulated. https://twitter.com/KerryMP/status/1326858254736044032?s=20
