WIREDGOV

Cllr David Renard, the Local Government Association’s housing spokesman, responded to a report by the King’s Fund which shows an increase in the number of hospital admissions related to homelessness 

“Councils are determined to prevent rough sleeping and homelessness from happening in the first place, and these worrying figures show that more needs to be done. 

“The funding announced last week to tackle rough sleeping will help councils’ efforts to get people off the streets and into safe accommodation, and reduce hospital admissions related to homelessness.

“If we are to properly address this then the Government should use the Budget next week to adapt welfare reforms to protect families at risk of becoming homeless, and restore local housing allowance rates to cover at least the lowest third of market rents. 

“With powers and funding to spark a genuine renaissance in council house-building, councils can also provide the homes, including social homes for rent, that are desperately needed to help boost affordability, home ownership and reduce homelessness and rough sleeping. This includes urgent reform to the Right to Buy scheme, to enable councils to keep all sales receipts and set discounts locally.”

King’s Fund Report – Delivering health and care for people who sleep rough: going above and beyond