Homelessness
£30m cash boost to tackle rough sleepers
Communities secretary James Brokenshire has announced a £30m cash boost to tackle rough sleepers in the worst hit parts of the country.
'Opportunities missed' to stop homeless death
Opportunities were missed to provide accommodation for a rough sleeper whose partially decomposed body was discovered in a tent, a review has found.
Overspending forces Manchester to dip into reserves
Manchester City Council has been forced to dip into its reserves after overspending on its 2017/18 budget.
Labour outlines housing policy
Labour would scrap right to buy, and give councils new borrowing freedoms and central funding in a bid to kick-start house building, the party said today.
We need a concerted effort to tackle homelessness
Enabling councils to build more social housing, welfare policy and reform in the private rented sector are just some of the solutions to the complex issue of increasing homelessness. John O'Brien explains.
Wheeler promises rogue landlords clampdown
Housing minister Heather Wheeler has promised a clampdown on rogue landlords using benefit changes to drive down standards in the private rented sector.
Shiny homelessness initiatives are no consolation for supported housing changes
If we are to tackle this national homelessness crisis, the Government not only has to progress new initiatives, but also ensure that the very housing that currently provides a lifeline to tens of thousands of people without a home is not jeopardised, writes Denise Hatton.
Camden sees biggest rise in rough sleeping
Camden LBC had the largest increase – over 600% – in rough sleepers over the last year in England, according to new figures published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).
Lambeth to lend £300m to new housing company
Lambeth LBC will lend at least £300m to its new housing company over the next five years to kickstart an ambitious plan.
Welsh councils must tackle causes of homelessness, watchdog says
Local authorities in Wales need to do more to tackle the ‘underlying causes’ of homelessness, auditors have said.
Council leader faces no confidence vote
Windsor & Maidenhead RBC's leader is facing a motion of no confidence after his controversial open letter asking police to remove homeless people ahead of the royal wedding.
Councillor's homeless gaffe
Council leader Simon Dudley was branded ‘abhorrent’ over the Christmas period after calling on police to clear rough sleepers from Windsor before the royal wedding.
Government’s homelessness approach ‘unacceptably complacent’ - MPs
A committee of MPs tasked with overseeing the Government’s accounts has launched a devastating attack on its approach to homelessness.
Councils not acting fast enough on homelessness, warns LGO
Local authorities should not ‘wait until the last minute’ to help families in danger of becoming homeless, the Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) has warned.
2017 had highest number of homeless children in 10 years
The highest numbers of homeless children in a decade were recorded this year, according to charity Shelter, and 128,000 will be living in temporary accommodation on Christmas day.
LGA chief chosen for new homelessness panel
Local Government Association chief executive Mark Lloyd will represent the sector as a member of Whitehall’s new rough sleeping advisory panel.
Private rented sector key to reducing homelessness
An unregulated private rented sector is the main reason for a rise in homelessness, the mayor of Hackney has suggested.
Budget 2017: Devolution and housing key planks in speech
Philip Hammond’s first Autumn Budget has seen the chancellor unveil a raft of new devolution deals, measures to boost housing and changes to resolve issues with controversial Universal Credit.
Budget 2017: Housing Revenue Account cap lifted for some
The Housing Revenue Account cap will be lifted for councils in ‘high-demand areas’ and stamp duty will be scrapped for most first-time buyers, chancellor Philip Hammond announced in his Budget speech.
Council in cash plea over Universal Credit impact
Croydon LBC has asked the Government for urgent extra funding after being hit by soaring costs to prevent families on Universal Credit (UC) from becoming homeless.