Minister "definitely" open to lowering affordable housing age limit

Monday 11 March 2024

Jersey's Housing Minister has said that he would "definitely" be open to lowering the age criteria for the Affordable Housing Gateway even further, after recent changes proved "a great success".

However, Deputy Sam Mézec said that any decision to widen the eligibility criteria would be dependent on the island having enough social housing.

The previous Housing Minister said last year that the criteria for the gateway would be widened in phases, including the lowering of the age requirement down from 40 to 25.

It currently stands at 35, although there are exceptions for islanders in certain circumstances, such as those with a medical, physical or mental disability in need of a special type of housing.

The changes, which also included new qualifying income limits, were expected to increase the number of people registered on the waiting list – however, Deputy Mézec said Andium has not been "overwhelmed" by demand.

"It is also dependent on us building enough social housing "

Deputy Mézec said he would "definitely" be open to lowering the age requirement even further, although he added that: "It all depends on the provision of supply because the worst thing we can do to young people is make a promise to them that we can't keep."

He continued: "I want the gateway to eventually be a genuine list that reflects housing need, not just a list that reflects the housing need within the boundaries that we arbitrarily set. I want us to get to a point with the gateway, where more or less anyone can be eligible for it if they are in need.

The Deputy added: "But it will take time to get to that point and it is also dependent on us building enough social housing so we can accommodate everyone.

"When we have opened the criteria recently, it has been a great success. They [Andium] have not found themselves being overwhelmed."

Accommodation "gap" for vulnerable youths

Deputy Hilary Jeune, who chairs the Jersey Association of Youth and Friendship which accommodates islanders between 18 and 25, recently warned of a rise in homelessness among young people.

She said there was a "gap" in the provision of housing in Jersey for under-25s after JAYF saw a spike in referrals to from 47 in 2022 to 64 in 2023.

Pictured: The JAYF is seeing an increase in referrals from young islanders struggling to find accommodation.

"There are many reasons for that. Of course, the youngsters we are seeing, we would say that they are vulnerable and they are finding it hard because of the cost of living to be able to pay market rates for accommodation," she explained.

"Private landlord accommodation is out of their reach for many reasons, often many of our youngsters are on zero-hour contracts or apprenticeships, or in education, so are not able to access funds."