Shelter calls for 90,000 affordable homes to rent to be built EVERY year
2 years ago | 42 comments
Sadiq Khan blames government failures for rising homelessness
12:02 AM, 4th July 2024, 2 years ago
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Temporary accommodation and homelessness spending by councils has soared to £1bn in the last eight years.
According to figures by the Local Government Association (LGA), the total amount spent by councils on temporary accommodation has soared by more than £733m since 2015/16.
Back then, councils spent around £315 million on emergency housing, but by 2023/24, this figure has risen to £1.048 billion.
The news comes after City Hall figures reveal in London more than one in five people (22%) sleeping rough for the first time had been renting privately before they became homeless.
Khan calls for end of no-fault evictions
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan blames the government’s failure to ban ‘no-fault’ evictions for the rise in homelessness.
He told Inside Housing: “Rising rough sleeping shames us all, and Tory ministers most of all. After 14 years, the rising number of people sleeping on park benches and in shop doorways in every region of the country is a stark symbol of the Conservatives’ failure in government.
“In London, I’ve quadrupled City Hall’s rough sleeping budget, investing in emergency accommodation, outreach teams and extra cold-weather support.
“However, it’s clear that much more is needed, starting with ending ‘no-fault’ evictions and fixing the chaos in the asylum system which is seeing people moved out of Home Office accommodation and onto the streets.”
According to City Hall, the number of rough sleepers in London has risen nearly 20% in a year. New rough sleepers made up 66% of all people recorded rough sleeping in London in 2023-24.
Lack of social housing
In 2015/16, councils allocated 18% of their total housing budgets to homelessness by 2023-24, this has risen sharply to 60%.
The LGA has warned that councils now spend at least £1.75 billion annually to support nearly 113,000 households in temporary accommodation due to a severe shortage of social housing.
The LGA are calling on the next government to give more power to councils as well as reforming right to buy and abolish Section 21.
Cllr Claire Holland, housing spokesperson for the LGA said: “Homelessness pressures on councils are spiralling as a larger proportion of their budgets is put towards costly temporary accommodation due to a lack of social housing.
“The way to properly resolve the issue is to address the shortage of suitable housing across the country and build up councils’ stock of social housing.
“Councils need to be given the powers and resources to build affordable homes their communities need so they can resume their historic role as a major builder of affordable homes.”
Tags:
affordable housing, council spending on homeless, homelessness, local government association, london rough sleepers, sadiq khan, Social Housing Shortage, temporary accommodation
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Member Since April 2024 - Comments: 284
12:00 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by TheMaluka at 04/07/2024 – 09:48
Hi I am considering this. Is there anything other than paying CT and standard utility charges, informing insurance, I need to consider? I suppose making the property look occupied NOT empty would be advisable?
Member Since January 2022 - Comments: 267
2:24 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GLee at 05/07/2024 – 21:26
Well done you!
Member Since April 2024 - Comments: 284
2:33 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by GLee at 05/07/2024 – 21:26
That’s great to hear!
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3508 - Articles: 5
2:36 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Alison Clark at 06/07/2024 – 12:00
During voids/empty periods I put nets up and go in every so often and draw curtains back and forth. Put a light on timer to go on and off upstairs at night so looks like someone is in. I have have fitted false alarm box on front and back of all properties over the years and on occasion taken my own rubbish to put in the bins all to look like it is being lived in. Even put up old birthday cards on the window cills for a while too.
Member Since April 2024 - Comments: 284
2:50 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 06/07/2024 – 14:36
Great tips, thank you. lol never thought about putting up birthday cards, fab idea.?
Member Since May 2014 - Comments: 616
3:39 PM, 6th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Instead of curtains I have venetian blinds because that way no one can tell if the property is occupied or not from the outside.
Member Since April 2024 - Comments: 284
10:33 AM, 7th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Reluctant Landlord at 06/07/2024 – 14:36
Great tips, thank you. lol never thought about putting up birthday cards, fab idea.?
Member Since October 2013 - Comments: 1630 - Articles: 3
12:51 PM, 8th July 2024, About 2 years ago
Reply to the comment left by Tom McGrath at 04/07/2024 – 13:32
Let’s see A Rayner try to justify that one! Same as Lady Nugee, except she and her husband did it on a grander scale in Islington.