The Ministry of Housing Communities & Local Government has announced that the number of households accepted as homeless by London councils has fallen by 56% from April – June 2017 to April-June 2018.
This dramatic fall followed the Homelessness Reduction Act coming into force and raises questions about whether London councils have the resources to meet both their old and their new homelessness obligations.
The Chair of the London Assembly Housing Committee, Sian Berry AM said:
“These new statistics could be a sign of councils struggling to fund the prevention of homelessness.
“In our Hidden Homelessness report we asked the Government to keep the ability of councils to meet their new obligations under review and these statistics suggest that they need to look very carefully at this now.
“It’s a known fact that councils are struggling financially and if they need more support to prevent homelessness this should be considered.
“We must make sure we never lose sight of the fact that a stable home, especially for families with children, is the most important thing. They must make this a priority.”
Notes to editors
- Hidden Homelessness report – September 2017
- Sian Berry AM, Chair of the Housing Committee, is available for interviews. Please see contact details below.
- Housing Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Funmi Olutoye on 020 7084 2713. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.