Labour council faces legal challenge after handing out hundreds of eviction notices
1 year ago | 14 comments
Homelessness bill is pushing London’s councils ‘to the brink’
12:04 AM, 27th January 2025, 1 year ago
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London Councils is warning that rocketing homelessness in the capital is ‘pushing boroughs to the brink’, with unsustainable pressure on local services and budgets.
The call comes as the cross-party group welcomes a new report from a Parliamentary committee highlighting the challenges for local authorities.
The Public Accounts Committee found councils across England are at ‘breaking point’ as they ‘haemorrhage funds’ to cover the rising costs of housing families in temporary accommodation.
London Councils describes the homelessness situation in the capital as an ’emergency’.
The national homelessness crisis
Coun Grace Williams, the organisation’s executive member for housing and regeneration, said: “The number of Londoners in temporary accommodation is going through the roof.
“The impact on individuals – especially families with children – is devastating.”
She adds: “The pressures on local services are also pushing boroughs to the brink. “
Ms Williams points out that London Councils is keen to work with the government on a national strategy to ‘addresses the unfolding emergency’
183,000 Londoners are homeless
Figures from London Councils show 183,000 Londoners – equivalent to one in 50 residents of the capital – are homeless and living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough.
This figure includes almost 90,000 children, or on average at least one homeless child in every London classroom.
The cross-party group estimates boroughs in the capital spend £4 million every day on temporary accommodation.
This spending has jumped 68% over the past year, and London boroughs are forecast to overspend their homelessness budgets by more than £270 million in 2024-25.
That figure has doubled over 12 months and is now creating a threat to boroughs’ financial stability.
Tags:
government funding, Homelessness Crisis, Housing benefit, LHA, Local Housing Allowance, London Councils, london homelessness, temporary accommodation
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Member Since September 2015 - Comments: 9
6:42 AM, 27th January 2025, About 1 year ago
I am guessing, but they still have not connected the dots. Between the war on the rental accommodation and the lack of homes to rent.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3517 - Articles: 5
9:15 AM, 27th January 2025, About 1 year ago
just think of the amount of money they could recoup from actually enforcing the powers they already have on the existing number of landlords out there that don’t abode by the CURRENT regulations.
I suspect they are simply not looking for fear of opening a Pandoras Box. What do you do with the tenants that are found living in dangerous properties… the council would more than likely be legally liable to take them in…and put them into emergency housing/temp accommodation….
Member Since March 2017 - Comments: 317
12:22 PM, 27th January 2025, About 1 year ago
Someone has to say it “Up to one in 12 in London is an illegal migrant”, that’s 583,000 approx. according to Telegraph all living somewhere. I’ve just read that 50 more per day are being allowed in because migrants including illegals have a right to a family life. Then add to that all the workshy. No need to say anymore except it’s a disgrace when we can’t even look after our own homeless people. Come on Shelter et al about time you put your money where your mouth is. Hope this comment does not get disallowed.
Member Since February 2016 - Comments: 1056
10:08 AM, 28th January 2025, About 1 year ago
Reply to the comment left by StvD at 27/01/2025 – 06:42
Dots? It’s one single direct connection between the two and the distance between them will be much shorter once the Renters Rights legislation is on the statute book.
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3517 - Articles: 5
10:25 PM, 28th January 2025, About 1 year ago
close the bloody boarders to anyone who has not already secured accommodation BEFORE they enter, illegal or otherwise.
Anyone arriving without prior agreement is just refused entry and chooses to either self return from where they came, or be send back.
Why bother with any boarder control at airports when people are coming in through the back door on dinghies? The UK has simply no idea who it has on its turf at any one time and no idea where they are either.
The madness has to stop.