Councils Could Face New Duty To Prevent Homelessness

As rents rise and benefits fall, more people face losing their home. A bill aims to stop people from becoming homeless by giving English councils specific duties to help everyone at an earlier stage. Homelessness has been rising steadily in England since 2011. In June, 73,120 households were in temporary accommodation – up 9% on a year earlier – nearly three quarters of them in London; the number in bed and breakfast rose by 16% to 6,520 in the year to June. Last autumn’s rough sleeper count, based on snapshot surveys on single nights and local authority estimates, showed a 30% increase on the previous year, a total of 3,569 people in England. Read more on the Public Finance website.

Homelessness Crisis: Ministers Consider 'Prevention Duty' For Councils

Ministers are considering changes to the law in an attempt to support the growing number of people on the brink of homelessness, including tens of thousands of “sofa surfers” currently denied official help to keep them off the streets. Options include introducing a new duty of prevention in England, which would force councils to provide advice and support for anyone at risk of homelessness, regardless of whether they are deemed to be in priority need under existing laws. The mooted “no one turned away” duty would give all residents who are homeless or at imminent risk of losing their home the right to practical help to prevent them losing a tenancy or secure new accommodation. Read more on the Guardian website.