Councils Warn Of Rise In Homelessness And Waiting Lists

Homelessness will increase and housing waiting lists will rise as government housing policies combine to reduce the number of desperately-needed homes available to communities, councils warn in a snapshot survey published by the Local Government Association. The LGA poll asked councils what the impact of a range of government housing policies would have on their local area by 2020. 90 per cent of councils responding to the survey said reforms – including extending Right to Buy, cuts to social housing rents and Pay to Stay – will lead to a drop in the number of much needed council homes. 78 per cent predict that the reforms will lead to a rise in homelessness and demand for temporary accommodation (80 per cent) in their community while the majority (81 per cent) expect their council housing waiting lists will increase as a result. Read more on the LGA website.