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LGA responds to Crisis report on Homelessness Reduction Act
Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, responded to a report by Crisis examining the Homelessness Reduction Act
“Councils are doing what they can to support all people who face the tragedy of being homeless, and we fully support this report’s call for more affordable housing.
“Homelessness services, which face a funding gap of more than £400 million by 2025, are under extreme pressure as a result of rising demand driven by a severe shortage of social housing.
“Councils want to work with government to be able to prevent homelessness before it happens, but as a result of unprecedented funding pressures, they are becoming increasingly limited in what they can do. More than two thirds of council homelessness services are now being forced to spend more than they budgeted for on homelessness.
“In this week’s Budget we want the Government to give councils the power to set their own Right to Buy discounts and to keep sales receipts in full, as well as restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to cover at least the lowest third of market rents.
“It is also important that government invests in homelessness prevention and gives councils the funding and powers they need to prevent homelessness and get back to building the affordable homes the country needs.”
A Foot In The Door: Experiences of the Homelessness Reduction Act (2020)
