62 vulnerable residents made homeless overnight after council cuts funding

More than 60 of Lambeth’s most vulnerable residents will be made homeless on Monday after the council blocked Government funding to the organisation supporting them.

Aves Housing has provided accommodation to high-risk people experiencing homelessness in Lambeth since 2013, many referred to it by Lambeth council.

In May 2023, Lambeth council stopped the Government funds – which the organisation pays to private landlords to house clients – arguing that Aves Housing did not offer “more than minimum support”.

Now in £800,000 of debt, Aves Housing can no longer support its residents.

Charles Bernard, 43, who lives in Sunnyhill Road, Streatham, said: “I’ve never had a secure home.

“Prison became my failsafe.”

Mr Bernard found refuge with Aves Housing in 2020 after he was released from prison having served a sentence for violent behaviour.

He said: “They helped me stay off the drink and drugs – it was the first time I’d been clean out of prison.

“On the streets, it was easy to fall back into it because I don’t have a home – take this, drink that, it stops you thinking about the day.”

Having never had a stable address, Mr Bernard had no passport or driving licence.

He said: “Aves got me my documentation – paid for my licence and passport. I had never existed on paper before, I became a person again.

“How can the council say this is low-level support?

“I haven’t been on the streets in four years – I’m dreading going back in the cold.”

Tenants appealed the council’s decision in May and are currently awaiting a tribunal date.

Carlos Luis, 50, another tenant of Aves Housing, living in Colmer Road, Streatham, became homeless after health issues forced him to stop working as a stonemason.

Mr Luis, who was born in Angola and has no family in the UK, said: “I couldn’t get a proper job because of lockdown. Depression and anxiety kicked in. I started drinking too much.

“Aves gave me support and now I’m sober.”

Mr Luis is now training for a job at the National Portrait Gallery. He said: “After all Aves’ support, the council is pushing us on to the streets.

“Since 2005 I’ve been in this country paying taxes and no one cares.”

Aves Housing support includes safeguarding and protection from abuse.

Monika Jeleniewska, 36, said: “I was homeless for two weeks in December after coming out of prison.

“I got a roof over my head and a support worker and someone helping me find a property.”

Ms Jeleniewska had been in prison for grievous bodily harm, following an incident with her abusive partner.

She said: “Aves is the only organisation that would let me live with my dog – this dog saved my life on many occasions.

“I don’t know South London well – without Aves, I will be back in hospital or dead.”

Aves Housing managers asked the council to incorporate their clients into a similar support provider in Lambeth – which was provided funding – but the council refused.

A 21-year-old, Isis, said: “I was sofa surfing or on the streets since I was 13, in Greenwich then in Lambeth. When I tried to get support from either council they sent me to the other one saying they didn’t have my details.

“No one supported me until I came to Aves.

“Lambeth are not fixing homelessness they are displacing us, hiding the problem and cutting off resources.”

A spokesman from Lambeth council said: “We are very disappointed Aves Housing has decided to issue notices to quit to all of its 62 residents. The council has committed to supporting and advising all affected residents so they can be re-housed.

“Following a review of the Aves properties it was determined that Aves did not provide enough support to residents to meet the conditions for Housing Benefit.

“Aves Housing presented extra evidence showing support provided to each resident. A full review of this evidence was carried out and reached the same conclusion.

“Aves Housing and all residents were advised of this last year and encouraged to claim Universal Credit Housing Costs. However, they said they did not have the resources to support their tenants to make these applications.”

Pictured top: Five of the 62 residents facing homelessness, outside Lambeth council today (Picture: Aves Housing)