The Housing Secretary has assured that the homelessness numbers will see a rapid decline. Steve Reed expressed concern over the rising figures of children in temporary accommodation, emphasizing the need for social housing providers to take decisive action. He acknowledged the distressing sight of individuals sleeping on the streets.
While acknowledging the necessity to prioritize home construction, Mr. Reed hinted at potential reductions in affordable housing building requirements in London. Recent data indicated a record high of 172,420 homeless children residing in temporary shelters in England, marking a two-decade peak.
Mr. Reed conveyed his commitment to reversing the trend of homelessness, affirming that any increase in numbers by the end of the Parliament term would be deemed a personal failure. He emphasized the urgency of collaborating with social housing developers to accelerate progress and address the moral issue of homelessness affecting children and individuals on the streets.
Additional funding of £84 million has been allocated to assist rough sleepers before the winter season, with immediate results anticipated. A meeting with key players in the social and affordable housing industry aimed to gather innovative proposals for utilizing the £39 billion government investment.
The government aims to construct 300,000 new social and affordable homes within the next decade through a 10-year investment plan, with bidding set to commence in February. Initiatives to enhance housing delivery, such as reforms to Right to Buy and the introduction of a long-term settlement for social housing rents, have already been implemented.
Despite leaked plans suggesting potential cuts to affordable housing requirements in London, Mr. Reed refrained from confirming the speculations, emphasizing the need for social housing development. Concerns have been raised by housing experts regarding the government’s pledge to build 1.5 million homes by 2029, with doubts cast on the feasibility of achieving the target.
