In a collective appeal, leading organisations—The District Councils’ Network (DCN), Local Government Association (LGA), Crisis along with the County Councils Network, and the East of England Local Government Association—have written to Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, calling for urgent measures to support those at risk of homelessness and protect the financial stability of local councils.

Recent data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government paints a dire picture, with a 12.3% increase in households in temporary accommodation, reaching 117,450 by March 2023. Even more concerning is the 14.7% rise in families with children in temporary accommodation, now totalling 74,530 households.

This surge in homelessness has placed an unsustainable burden on district councils, particularly in rural areas, where resources are often already stretched thin. The cost of temporary accommodation has skyrocketed, with some councils seeing a 200% increase in spending over the past five years. In some cases, up to half of a council's budget is now dedicated to managing the fallout from homelessness, leaving little room for investment in long-term solutions such as affordable housing.

The letter to the Deputy Prime Minister outlines five key actions needed to address this crisis:

1. Annual Uplift of Local Housing Allowance:

Commit to annually uprating Local Housing Allowance rates to ensure they keep pace with private rents, preventing more people from falling into homelessness.

2. Remove the Housing Benefit Subsidy Cap:

Unfreeze the cap to fully fund councils in providing decent temporary accommodation, reducing the financial strain on local authorities.

3. Invest in Social Housing:

Commit to long-term investment aimed at delivering 100,000 homes for social rent annually over the next 15 years, addressing the root cause of homelessness.

4. Create a Substantial Capital Fund:

Establish a fund to enable councils to rapidly build or acquire genuinely affordable housing, ensuring safe and secure homes for those at risk of homelessness.

5. Establish a Unit for Ending Homelessness:

Set up a dedicated government unit to lead a cross-departmental strategy focused on preventing and reducing homelessness, with clear targets and sustainable funding.

Read the letter in full HERE.

Cllr Hannah Dalton, Housing Spokesperson for the District Councils’ Network, stressed the need for a shift from crisis management to prevention, stating:

"High use of temporary accommodation is the result of national policy failure. Councils are being forced to deal with the consequences of homelessness rather than prevent it. We need extra powers to ensure sufficient affordable, good quality, secure homes are built in the first place."

Matt Downie, Chief Executive at Crisis, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the long-term damage caused by homelessness, particularly to children, and the urgent need for government action:

"Our housing and homelessness system is broken, and councils are paying a hefty price for years of inaction," he said. "It's critical that we establish a Unit for Ending Homelessness, ensuring that everyone has a safe place to call home."

The RSN supports this call for action and stresses the unique challenges faced by rural communities. Rural areas often have limited access to services and affordable housing, making the impact of homelessness even more severe. The RSN urges the government to consider the specific needs of rural areas in any national strategy to address homelessness.

Without swift and decisive action, the homelessness crisis will continue to grow, placing an even greater strain on local councils and communities. The RSN, along with its partners, stands ready to work with the government to implement effective solutions that will end the reliance on temporary accommodation and ensure that every individual has access to secure, stable housing.

Now is the time for a comprehensive, coordinated effort to tackle homelessness at its root, protecting vulnerable individuals and ensuring the sustainability of our communities.