Advice service demand rises amid housing crisis

Advice service demand rises amid housing crisis20 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GooglePA MediaCitizens Advice Guernsey has published its annual reportCitizens Advice Guernsey says demand for its services is rising, with increasingly complex cases driven by housing shortages and cost of living pressures. In its annual report, the advice service said it supported 3,043 clients in 2025, dealing with almost 5,700 separate issues, an increase from 2,991 clients in 2024. The average time spent with each client rose from 51 to 54 minutes, which it said was equivalent to about 150 extra hours of adviser time overall. The charity said the increased time spent with clients highlighted the "increasing complexity of client needs and the growing demand on our adviser resources". More than 10,000 volunteer hours were needed to keep the advice service operating in 2025. Housing was the single biggest driver behind demand accounting for more than 1,000 cases and affecting 474 clients. The charity said rental housing was a "particularly difficult" area for its clients, along with a "chronic shortage of social housing". More news stories for GuernseyListen to the latest news for GuernseyEmployment issues ranked as the second-most common area of concern, while legal and family matters were third and fourth. However, the organisation's data suggests housing was at the centre of many cases, often linked to financial stress or relationship difficulties. "Divorce and separation often add to the housing shortage, because the separated couple need two homes," it said. The charity also highlighted concerns about the wider impact of the cost-of-living crisis, warning that demand is likely to continue rising as financial pressures grow. "It is anticipated that with the continuing cost-of-living crisis, this is going to impact further on those who are already struggling, as well as those who have just managed to survive thus far," it said. Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this storyKey social issues identified in charity reportCharity needs to double its funding to break evenRelated internet links Citizens Advice GuernseyCitizens AdviceCost of Living