West Cumbria Opportunities & Challenges 2025 42 43 7 In 2009 the house affordability ratio stood at 4.79, reaching a peak of 4.92 in 2012 and 2019. Although now aggregated to a Cumberland level, previously Allerdale showed only a slight rise from 5.3 in 2017 to 5.7 in 2022, and Copeland showed a slight fall from 3.0 in 2017 to 2.9 in 2022. 8 https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/housingpriceslocal/E06000063/#rent_price 9 https://www.varbes.com/compare/compare-average-rent 10 Office for National Statistics, 2021, www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000026/ and www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000029/ 11 Office for National Statistics, 2021, www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000026/ and www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E07000029/ 12 Different organisations use different methodologies to estimate households in fuel poverty and these methodologies also change over time. These variations in methodological approaches mean that it is difficult to compare statistics from different organisations and over varying timeframes. The methodology used by the UK Government to calculate fuel poverty in England changed in 2021. In 2020 the Low-Income High Costs (LIHC) indicator was used and from 2021 onwards the Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator was used. The LIHC costs defines a household as being fuel poor if they have required fuel costs that are above average (the national median level); and were they to spend that amount, the household would be left with a residual income below the official poverty line. The Low-Income Low Energy Efficiency (LILEE) indicator defines that a household is considered to be fuel poor if it meets two key criteria: i) Low energy efficiency. This includes all households with a Fuel Poverty Energy Efficiency Rating (FPEER) of band D or below and ii) Low income. This includes all households whose residual household income would be below the official poverty line if they were to spend their modelled energy costs. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fuel-poverty-statistics-methodology-handbook 13 https://www.nea.org.uk/what-is-fuel-poverty/ 14 https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/local-area-data-fuel-poverty/ 15 Fuel Poverty Factsheet: Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, 2024, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fuel-poverty-factsheet-2025 HOMELESSNESS AND RISK OF HOMELESSNESS The Covid-19 pandemic facilitated a muchneeded respite for those who were classed as homeless. According to a report from the National Housing Federation25 ‘rough sleeping' essentially ended overnight with the government measures for temporary accommodation. This shows what is possible with determination and funding. We need the support to continue after the crisis with a renewed effort to securing permanent homes, ring fenced resettlement funding and ongoing support for those who are temporarily housed.’ And indeed, post Covid-19, these solutions are needed more than ever. The latest quarterly release from the Department for Levelling Up and Housing October–December 2024 states that across Cumberland:26 • Of the 352 households that were assessed as ‘owed a duty’27 53.1% were threatened with homelessness and 46.9% were classified as homeless. • Across the 352 households, 23.5% found themselves at the end of a freehold private rented tenancy; 18.7% were females with dependent children; 43.3% were single males and 21.9% were single females. Furthermore, the support needs of those households owed a prevention or relief duty included a range of issues often complex in their nature:28 • 56.8% had a history of mental health problems • 41.2% had physical health or disability challenges • 18.8% were at risk of or had experienced domestic abuse • 34.1% had an offending history • 28.7% had a history of repeat homelessness • 14.8% had learning disabilities • 11.4% had alcohol dependency needs. In West Cumbria, using the figures produced for Cumberland Council for 2024-25, 63% of assessments for homelessness were in West Cumbria, approximately 1,837 households. GAMBLING In 2023, government estimates suggested that 300,000 people across the UK were affected by ‘problem gambling’. Online gambling has surged, especially via mobile phones, effectively turning them into 24-hour casinos.22 The scale of the problem is such that in 2023-24 the national gambling helpline GamCare received over 44,000 calls and online chats from people concerned about gambling behaviours.23 Across West Cumbria between October 23 - August 24, 42 people went directly to CADAS for gambling related support to CADAS24 or the Beacon Trust. CADAS further estimate that 6-10 additional people are adversely impacted by the gambling habits of any given individual. Within Citizens Advice Allerdale, of those people asked about gambling (approximately 10% of clients), 5% state that they are worried about either their gambling, or that of a friend or family member. The experience of lockdown, especially the shock of the ‘stay at home’ instructions, led to an increased concern for the plight of those in abusive relationships. On the one hand this served to increase public awareness about the importance of housing in recovery pathways. But at the same time the situation exposed the barriers with finding temporary and permanent accommodation. In Cumberland, during October to December 2024, 10.7% of people identified their needs for accommodation as being a result of domestic abuse. CRIME The overall crime rate in Cumbria (using September 2024 figures) stands at 72 crimes per 1000.29 This is a significant decrease in crime rate of 8.2% from 2022-23, well above the national rate which shows a decrease of 3.1%. There have been some notable decreases in certain crimes including, public order (-28.9%), arson and criminal damage (-13.2%), violence against the person (-8.7%), sexual offences (-6.8%) and anti-social behaviour (-6.6%). Worryingly there have been large increases in drug offences (+45.6%); and robbery (+15.6%).30 Examples of specific trends for Allerdale and Copeland are shown in the following table, based on May 2024 calculations. Figures marked in green represent an improving situation. Figures marked in red represent a deteriorating situation:31 Issues32 Anti-Social Behaviour Criminal Damage / Arson Drugs Violence / Sexual Offences Public Order Timeline33 12m 3yrs 12m 3yrs 12m 3yrs 12m 3yrs 12m 3yrs Allerdale Cockermouth 9% 9.6% 12.1% 10% 3.9% 2.5% 45.2% 46.1% 9.5% 12.1% Keswick 11.5% 10.6% 10.9% 12.5% 2.7% 2% 40.5% 40.8% 5/6% 8.1% Wigton, Silloth & Aspatria 6.7% 7.2% 9.9% 11.6% 2.4% 2.2% 50.% 49.4% 8.9% 10.8% Maryport 9.7% 11.2% 11.2% 12.1% 5.6% 4% 40.6% 43.7% 6.3% 8.7% Workington North 12.9% 14.2% 7.9% 10.4% 4.8% 4.3% 38.5% 37.5% 8.7% 9.7% Copeland Whitehaven Town 20.9% 19.2% 10.7% 10.6% 4% 3.4% 36.1% 37.9% 7.5% 9.2% Egremont 9.3% 9.9% 10.8% 11.5% 3.1% 2.1% 45.4% 45.6% 10.5% 13.1% Cleator Moor 11.6% 12.3% 11.3% 11.8% 2.7% 2% 44.8% 44.1% 9.4% 11.1% Millom 9% 7.9% 12% 13.3% 2.6% 2.4% 50.6% 48.2% 7.7% 9.6% South Whitehaven & St Bees 11.1% 11.3% 12.6% 12.7% 2.7% 2.3% 44.5% 46.6% 9% 11% 16 Food poverty or household food insecurity is broadly defined as being a household that cannot (or are uncertain about whether they can) acquire an adequate quality or sufficient quantity of food in socially acceptable ways. Research Briefing: Food Poverty: Households, Food banks and Free School Meals: House of Commons Library, 2023, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-9209/ 17 Who is Experiencing Food Insecurity in the UK?: House of Commons Library Research Briefing, 2024, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/who-is-experiencing-food-insecurity-in-the-uk/ 18 Food Poverty: Households, Food Banks and Free School Meals, House of Commons Library Research Briefing, 2023, https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/ cbp-9209/ 19 Impact Report 2023-2024: The Trussell Trust, 2024, https://www.trusselltrust.org/about/our-impact/ 20 Financial Lives: Financial Conduct Authority, 2023, https://www.fca.org.uk/publications/financial-lives/financial-lives-january-2023-consumer-experience 21 The Opinions and Lifestyle Survey: Public Opinions and Social Trends, Great Britain’s Household Finances 2nd to 27th April 2025: Office for National Statistics, 2025, https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/datasets/publicopinionsandsocialtrendsgreatbritainhouseholdfinances 22 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/major-reform-of-gambling-laws-to-protect-vulnerable-users-in-smartphone-era. See also: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/gambling-related-harms-evidence-review/gambling-related-harms-evidence-review-summary--2 23 https://www.gamcare.org.uk/news-and-blog/news/gamcares-annual-report-2022-23/ 24 Cumbria Addictions, Advice and Solution charity provides county wide support across Cumbria. Figures quoted were provided by CADAS in August 2024. 25 The Impact of Covid-19 on Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and the Private Sector: National Housing Federation Submission to HCLG Committee Inquiry, 2021.
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