New Head of Housing to help tackle Hastings' housing crisis

Hastings Borough Council has appointed a new Head of Housing who will be working across the town to tackle the housing crisis.

Chris Hancock started at HBC last week, moving from his role as Services Development Director for Crisis, the national charity for people facing homelessness.

Chris has also worked with the National Homelessness Practitioner Support Service funded by Department for Communities and Local Government (as it was) providing support to local authorities in the east, south east and London. Before that he worked for other local authorities in their housing departments.

Chris, who lives in the borough, said: "I am incredibly excited to be joining my own local authority to lead our Housing Services. The challenge has never been greater to balance the resources available to us and the need for our services, but it is already clear to me that the team I am joining have the commitment and ambition to tackle it. I am also looking forward to meeting all of our partners as soon as I can, and hearing from others and getting their help in making Hastings a place where everyone has the home that meets their needs."

Cllr Simon Willis, lead councillor for housing, said: "We are very excited that someone with Chris's deep experience and local knowledge is joining us to help us to urgently address the housing crisis we face in Hastings. I am looking forward to working with him to ensure that every resident has a safe and secure home."