Title

WELFARE

Cost of living crisis could have 'catastrophic' impact on homelessness

The cost of living crisis could have a ‘catastrophic’ impact on homelessness and should be treated with the same level of urgency as the pandemic, Prime Minister Liz Truss has been told.

The cost of living crisis could have a ‘catastrophic' impact on homelessness and should be treated with the same level of urgency as the pandemic, Prime Minister Liz Truss has been told.

A new report from the Kerslake Commission on Homelessness and Rough Sleeping called for the reintroduction of a temporary ban on evictions and for an immediate increase in the benefit cap in response to rising inflation.

Commission chair Lord Kerslake said: ‘We, once again, need to see the strong, decisive leadership from the Government we did during Everyone In, backed by resources and funding.

'But this time the focus must be two pronged.

'It is no longer just about getting people off the streets - it is about ensuring people who are currently at risk of homelessness don't end up on them.

‘Failure to act could see this become a homelessness as well as an economic crisis and the results could be catastrophic; with all the good achieved in reducing street homelessness since the pandemic lost and any hope of the Government meeting its manifesto pledge to end rough sleeping by 2024 gone.'

Chief executive of charity Homeless Link, Rick Henderson, a member of the Kerslake Commission, added: 'While action on energy bills is welcome this is not the only pressure and, without further Government action, we are headed for a fresh homelessness emergency.'

A Government spokesperson said: ‘We are giving councils £316m this year to ensure families are not left without a roof over their heads.

‘This is alongside the action we are taking to support families with the cost of living this winter through our £37bn support package.'

WELFARE

AI and tech – the evolution of care

By Simon Guerrier | 22 September 2025

Simon Guerrier examines what AI and technology-enabled care are, the benefits they can bring, the risks and costs to consider, and the lessons from one local...

WELFARE

Red flags and boiling frogs: a damning picture that the National Youth Strategy must fix

By Leigh Middleton | 22 September 2025

With the Government's National Youth Strategy due to be published, Leigh Middleton warns that without robust, detailed policy and investment 'we are on a pat...

WELFARE

Councils can't wait for reform

By Joanne Pitt | 22 September 2025

Drawing on assurance work by CIPFA, Joanne Pitt sets out the challenges driving the growing reliance on Exceptional Financial Support and outlines the urgent...

WELFARE

Councils spend record £2.8bn on temporary housing

By Heather Jameson | 19 September 2025

The Government has released new figures showing that local councils in England spent £2.8bn on temporary accommodation for homeless households in 2024/25, a ...

Popular articles by William Eichler