Councils Asked To Reveal Numbers of Displaced LHA Claimants

Labour’s Shadow Housing Minister and Shadow Minister for London have written to all London councils asking them to clarify how many homeless people are being housed outside the capital.  The London borough of Newham revealed on Tuesday that it had written to over 1,000 housing associations around the country – including one in Stoke-on-Trent – in an attempt to find temporary accommodation for homeless families.  Jack Dromey MP and Tessa Jowell MP have written to all London boroughs in a bid to see the “full picture”.  Mr Dromey, who has also written to Housing Minister Grant Shapps on the matter, said: "Britain is facing a growing housing crisis and the Government appears to be completely out of touch with the impact on families.”  Reacting to Newham Council’s move to seek temporary accommodation in Stoke-on-Trent, Grant Shapps told the BBC it was “unfair and wrong” and that councils had been advised “not to do this”.  Read more on 24dash.