The provision of a shared public sector housing waiting list in the south of the Island is set to continue following the completion of a pilot scheme.
The shared list will be established on a permanent basis in a move that strengthens the working partnership between the Department of Infrastructure and the southern Local Authorities of Arbory, Castletown, Malew, Port Erin, Santon and Rushen.
The initiative also meets one of the objectives of the Programme for Government, as part of the work to support an inclusive and caring Island.
Julie Edge MHK, Department Member with responsibility for Housing, said:
‘This initiative has been shown to deliver many benefits and there was strong support for it to continue. The shared list provides applicants to public sector housing with access to a wider geographical area. It has already led to many applicants being housed in parts of the south not previously available to them. There has been an increase in the number of applications since the shared list was introduced, with more than half of the applicants registering an interest to be housed anywhere in the southern region.’
She added:
‘We are looking at further opportunities to develop the relationship between central and local government in respect of housing. Other schemes are being introduced in the north, east and west of the Island, with the focus on providing effective housing services that meet the needs of our tenants.’
Port St Mary Commissioners have decided not to participate in the shared housing waiting list at this time. Consequently, applicants who wish to be housed in Port St Mary should apply directly to Port St Mary Commissioners.
