Neighbourhood clean up 'quick wins', Bournemouth

A landlord's view

Dave Wells Boscombe and Springbourne's main private landlord in his offices in Springbourne. on the walls are landlord accreditation certificates issued by neighbouring Poole Council for properties he owns there

Dave Wells, who began in the motor trade, buying a few flats to house his staff, dominates the private rented market in both Bournemouth and Poole. In the neighbourhood management area, he owns 400 properties , let to 1,800 tenants. Keats says he's been more responsive than some to neighbourhood management's efforts and he readily admits that there are benefits for him, both as a landlord and a property owner.

'If the value of your properties go up, you can buy more,' Wells says. 'But our main task is to keep the tenants happy - if you have 1,000 properties but no tenants, they're worth nothing.'

Representing homeless people

According to official counts, says Barry Etheridge, there are now just four homeless people in Bournemouth. It is, he says, a complete fallacy. But his role is not to complain that homeless people are being overlooked, nor even to ask politely that they be housed. 'We're not helpless and we're not stupid. We want to help ourselves and we can, with a bit of support.'

Etheridge and two friends, also homeless, set up SPAAG - the street persons awareness and action group - in April 'to ease the situation of homeless people and people who are likely to become homeless.'

Neighbourhood management has backed their efforts by providing advice and helping to draw up policies and procedures along with making links to other agencies. In turn, it says, SPAAG has given it a better understanding of the needs of the homeless community. 'It means we can support and encourage more effective delivery,' says Sue Bickler.

A lot of Boscombe West and Springbourne's homeless residents have addictions and learning difficulties or mental health problems, says Etheridge. 'They leave the support of one organisation and there is no sensible transition to the next so the chain breaks down. They need somebody who'll take them by the hand.

But one of the biggest problems in this area is lack of communication. I've been in Bournemouth for two years and if a homeless person goes to most agencies, they don't know what to do and they'll send you to the wrong place. All it needed was a couple of sheets of paper and someone to take the initiative to distribute it around all the places where homeless people are likely to be.' With the help of staff at Shelter, that is now happening, he adds.

He's now working to secure funding for SPAAG though adds that a lot of what he hopes it will do 'won't cost a penny'. Homeless people, he says, learn through bitter experience not to trust officials. 'But they do trust us so, if I say, "this young lady wants to talk to you", they'll know why. Half the hurdles are just a lack of understanding.'

Etheridge has been in the army, taught outward bound skills and been a partner in a business. A succession of 'difficulties and disappointments' led to him becoming homeless. 'This is my therapy now. It's my job to negotiate, moan, pester, whinge and lobby." The group is now officially constituted and ready for action.