LGA responds to latest homelessness figures

Responding to statutory homelessness figures for July to September 2019, which show the number of households in temporary accommodation has increased by 4.8 per cent in the past year, Cllr David Renard, Local Government Association housing spokesman, said:

“These figures highlight the extreme pressures homelessness services continue to be under, as a result of rising demand driven by a severe shortage of social housing.

“Councils are leading local efforts to support people at risk of homelessness during the coronavirus outbreak, and will be working closely with tenants who are experiencing financial difficulty as a result, to help them remain in their homes.

“The recently announced measures to protect tenants from eviction will help to reduce homelessness.

“The Government also needs to urgently address the growing shortfall between housing benefit and the cost of private sector rents and councils also need the flexibility to ensure the hardship funding announced in the Budget is best-used to support economically vulnerable people and households to prevent homelessness.”