Urgent Call for a Fresh Strategy: Homelessness Report Reveals Critical Demand
In London, one in every 23 children is currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, according to recent data. This alarming statistic is just one of the many findings captured in a new study that has shed light on the severity of the homelessness crisis in the capital.
The report, published by the National Audit Office (NAO), states that homelessness numbers in England are at a record level and are expected to increase. In London alone, 4,560 households with children were placed in Bed and Breakfast (B&B) accommodation, with 2,960 of these households having lived in them for longer than six weeks.
The NAO report indicates that homelessness in England is at its highest level since records began. Cllr Grace Williams, London Councils' executive member for housing & regeneration, considers the issue a national emergency. Homelessness has massive impacts on individual wellbeing and opportunities, as well as contributing to unsustainable financial pressures on council budgets.
The report highlights factors contributing to the increase in homelessness, including cutting housing benefits, sky-high rents, insecure tenancies, and shortages of social housing. London boroughs are determined to work with the new government and the Mayor of London in tackling the homelessness crisis.
Despite some small improvements, the NAO concluded that the condition has worsened since the introduction of the Homelessness Reduction Act in 2018. The Act, introduced by Theresa May's government, gave local authorities new duties to tackle homelessness.
The report offers key recommendations for the UK government to improve their strategy on addressing homelessness. These recommendations collectively call for increased investment in proven interventions like Housing First, improved commissioning and monitoring of services for better value, enhanced prevention programs, and strengthened local government capacity to manage homelessness demand effectively.
Claire Holland, the Local Government Association's housing spokesperson, has urged the government to take urgent action to implement the recommendations in the NAO report. Homelessness spending has tripled in eight years, according to recent research, which underscores the need for effective strategies to address this pressing issue.
Experts are now urging the new government to implement strategies that will make a difference in addressing homelessness. Better coordination across government departments, greater housing security, sufficient funding for councils, and more investment in building affordable homes are key to addressing homelessness, according to Cllr Grace Williams. The report states that improvements in homelessness can only be achieved if the government changes its approach.
[1] National Audit Office (NAO) report: Homelessness (2021) [2] Government's long-term homelessness strategy (2020) [3] Housing First (2014) [4] Charity evaluation of social housing as a solution to reduce homelessness duration (2019) [5] Devolved administrations' approaches to preventing homelessness (2020)
- Local government, specifically London Councils' executive member for housing & regeneration, Cllr Grace Williams, views the current homelessness crisis as a national emergency, acknowledging its detrimental effects on individual wellbeing, opportunities, and unsustainable financial pressures on council budgets.
- Recognizing the need for effective strategies to address the steady increase in homelessness numbers, the NAO report suggests key recommendations to the UK government, including increased investment in interventions like Housing First, improved commissioning and monitoring of services, enhanced prevention programs, and strengthened local government capacity.
- Claire Holland, the Local Government Association's housing spokesperson, echoes this call for urgent government action, citing recent research indicating that homelessness spending has tripled over eight years, highlighting the pressing need for sustained, effective strategies to address this issue and improve the lives of those affected.
