MHCLG’s Latest Homelessness Statistics For 2020-2021

MHCLG has released the latest statutory homelessness statistics, covering the period from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021. The statistics capture data on everyone who has been assessed under the Homelessness Reduction Act. Whilst the Homelessness Reduction Act significantly expanded the number of people eligible for homelessness support from their local authority, the statutory statistics still only capture those who access support from Housing Options services. This data helps explain the wider trends, but not those not engaging with support, people experiencing more hidden forms of homelessness or those not entitled to support because of immigration restrictions. According to the latest statistics, 268,560 households were at risk of or experienced homelessness from 2020-21. Read more on the Homeless Link website.

https://homeless.org.uk/connect/blogs/2021/sep/13/stats-summary-mhclg%E2%80%99s-latest-homelessness-statistics-for-2020-2021 

Boris: Starter Homes Could Damage Shared Ownership

Boris Johnson is pleading with ministers to ensure requirements on councils to support Starter Homes do not damage his ambitious shared ownership targets. His intervention will deepen fears that large-scale government plans for Starter Homes risk smothering other low-cost housing options such as shared ownership. City Hall has “made representations” to government to ensure Starter Homes and shared ownership “work harmoniously”. The Greater London Authority (GLA) is concerned that potential quotas for Starter Homes would leave the mayor unable to fulfil his pledge to get 250,000 Londoners into shared ownership within the decade. Mr Johnson is now pushing for the power to set his own targets for Starter Homes in London. Read more on Inside Housing.

Enfield Tears Up Rules in Radical Attempt to Ease Housing Problem

Pushed into a corner by soaring prices, greedy landlords and a cap on benefits, one London council has embarked on a daring set of untested policies to provide more public housing.  Read all about how Enfield Council has developed a range of options – including buying houses which would not be eligible for Right to Buy - in an attempt to counteract the ruinous costs of homelessness, on the Guardian website.

Council Tenants Fight to Keep ALMO

Council tenants in Stevenage are to begin a campaign in a bid to keep their ALMO from returning in-house to the council. Tenants claim the local authority is planning to bring ALMO Stevenage Homes, set up in 2006, back in house, but say they haven't been "properly consulted" and haven't been given access to independent advice. The council says it has informed all its tenants about the 'Housing Options Appraisal Project' - to assess whether to keep or take in the ALMO - through the tenants magazine. However, the Federation of Stevenage Tenants and Associations (FOSTA) claims the council was planning to issue tenants with "a very inaccurate and misleading draft letter and draft Housing Options Appraisal Survey", through the magazine. It said the editorial panel was given less than 24 hours to respond to the "inaccuracies" which it has. Read more on 24dash.