Affordable Housing Gateway criteria (FOI)

Request 

Since 2000 to February 2021

A

How many children on the Island have been placed in Care because of the Affordable Housing Gateway policy which disqualifies two separated parents from acquiring social housing? 

The policy being that only one low income divorced parent is allowed to be socially housed on Jersey. 

A real example being that an unfit parent loses partial custody of child / children to other parent, but that parent is on a low income and can only accommodate their children by applying to the Affordable Housing Gateway. This parent will have their application immediately rejected on the basis that the other parent is housed by the Gateway. 

B

How long has this policy of excluding another parent from applying to be housed on a low income, been in place for? 

Response

A

The Affordable Housing Gateway does not hold data to confirm how many children have been placed in care as a result of one or more of their parents’ ineligibility for social housing. The Gateway recognises that, on occasion, an applicant's circumstances may not strictly meet the eligibility criteria even though they demonstrate a genuine need. If there are reasonable exceptional circumstances an application may continue outside of the eligibility rules, subject to confirmation from the Minister or a senior officer holding delegated responsibility on behalf of the Minister. 

B

The Housing Gateway policy has been in place since the Gateway was created in 2012. An updated version of the Eligibility Criteria for Renting Social Housing will be published shortly.