Three Birmingham City Council staff 'hurt in serious incident' as housing office closed

A housing office where hundreds of struggling people at risk of homelessness seek help has temporarily closed down after a 'serious incident'. Three staff were hurt and needed hospital treatment after an incident at Newtown housing options office earlier this month, triggering calls from a staff union for an urgent review of security at all council offices.

The office, at New Aston House, often opens to queues of desperate people seeking help with housing issues or an emergency place to sleep. It has been closed down for over a week.

The closure comes as temperatures plummet and demand for housing help increases. Details of the incident itself are light, but a letter from the union Unison to its members states that three staff attended hospital as a result of a serious incident.

According to the Unison Birmingham branch, staff at the centre had raised concerns previously about security in the building.

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“The building has been temporarily closed as a result of the deficiencies the incident has highlighted,” said branch communications officer David Hughes in a letter sent to members. “In a climate where public dissatisfaction with council services is increasing due to the cutting of essential services, Unison members are concerned that they may become the targets of public anger.”

The union is now calling for a thorough investigation of the incidents at the Newtown offices, jointly agreed security measures ahead of reopening, and a review of security arrangements at all council offices, particularly those that provide public access.

The city council said: “To ensure the safety of our staff and members of the public, our Housing Options Centre at New Aston House is currently closed to the public. Our service is being provided through our phone service and dedicated hubs. Anyone in housing need can contact our services as usual through our contact centre on 0121 303 7410.”

Hostels to close imminently

The temporary closure also comes after the imminent closure of two homeless hostels in the city. Washington Court, a 100-bed hostel in the city, and the William Booth Centre, a 74-bed facility run by the Salvation Army, are both shutting down as a result of a new 'service delivery model' created to help improve care and reduce financial costs for the council.

Housing and homeless support provider Trident Reach is now overseeing all emergency provisions. It says the closure of Washington Court is part of the council’s 'change in service delivery' and that it will be moving towards a more localised emergency bed provision.

The Salvation Army said its decision to close its hostel reflected the 'changes in funding' now facing the city's homeless services. Birmingham City Council said it recognised the "high level of need for homeless services" in the city. "We are committed to working on behalf of the most vulnerable people... and delivering solutions that offer the best outcomes for all those who come into contact with our service," it said.