UK Inquiry Tracker

Tackling homelessness

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 31 Oct 2024 Closed: 3 Apr 2025 Parliament page

All forms of homelessness are increasing. In 2022-23, there were over 100,000 households in England living in temporary accommodation, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 extended the duties for councils to work more on prevention and relief. Since then, homelessness has worsened due to … Read more All forms of homelessness are increasing. In 2022-23, there were over 100,000 households in England living in temporary accommodation, according to the National Audit Office (NAO). The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 extended the duties for councils to work more on prevention and relief. Since then, homelessness has worsened due to factors including a continuing shortage of social housing, welfare reforms, steep inflation in the private rental sector, and pressure on local housing. The Committee’s “Homeless households” report in 2017 warned that the extent of homelessness across England at the time was a national crisis, with an unacceptably complacent attitude from the then-Department for Communities and Local Government in efforts to reduce homelessness. Its 2024 report on the Homes for Ukraine scheme also raised concerns around the growing number of Ukrainians at risk of homelessness in the UK, as hosting arrangements ended or broke down. The NAO’s study in 2024 considers how the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC) works with other government departments and local authorities to tackle homelessness. The NAO has noted that homelessness is becoming a problem in places other than the traditional hotspots of London and certain metropolitan areas. It also highlighted that the rising costs of, and demand for, temporary accommodation are putting some local authorities under significant financial pressure. Based on the NAO’s work, the Committee will take evidence from senior DLUHC officials, with likely focuses including: - Government’s understanding of the extent, causes and costs of homelessness; - Delivery of system leadership on homelessness by the Department; and - The response of and support for local authorities. Please note that the Committee is unable to consider or assist with individual cases. If you need help with an individual problem you are having, you may wish to contact your constituency MP . If you have evidence on these issues please submit it here by 23:59 on Thursday 21 November 2024. Please look at the requirements for written evidence submissions and note that the Committee cannot accept material as evidence that is published elsewhere. Show less

18 Recommendations

20 Conclusions

1 Report

1 Oral session

1 Letter

1 Event

Activity timeline 4 events

6 May
2025

Report published

Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fourth report from Session 2024-25

7 Apr
2025

Correspondence

Letter from the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government relating to the Committee’s hearing on Tac…

24 Jan
2025

Report published

4th Report - Tackling homelessness

2 Dec
2024

Oral evidence

Tackling homelessness

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

2 Dec 2024

View on parliament.uk

Tackling homelessness

Catherine Frances · Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities James Wolfe · Department for Work and Pensions Jenan Hasan · Department for Work & Pensions Penny Hobman · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Sarah Healey CB CVO · Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
4th Report - Tackling homelessness	HC 352	24 Jan 2025	38	Response document linked

Recommendations & Conclusions

38 results

2 Recommendation

4th Report - Tackling homelessness

Strengthen MHCLG's use of HAST advisers and support local authorities to reduce B&B reliance.

It is unacceptable that B&B accommodation is being used routinely to house people rather than as a last resort. We are alarmed at the detrimental impact that living in B&B accommodation has on people’s lives–not least on children, whose safety … Read more

HM Treasury

Tackling homelessness

Activity timeline 4 events

Oral evidence sessions 1 session

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Recommendations & Conclusions

Strengthen MHCLG's use of HAST advisers and support local authorities to reduce B&B reliance.

Improve MHCLG data on out-of-area placements to encourage better local authority coordination.

Set out DWP's detailed justification for Local Housing Allowance rates and temporary accommodation subsidy.

Detail how MHCLG's cross-government homelessness strategy will consolidate funding and improve coordination.

Provide update on MHCLG's housing strategy and detail how Homes England will meet future targets.

Implement the provisions of the Supported Housing (Regulatory Oversight) Act as quickly as possible.

Committee scrutinised government effectiveness and strategies in tackling rising homelessness issues.

National homelessness prevention strategies remain limited, delaying support for vulnerable families.

MHCLG exploring incentives and best practice sharing for homelessness prevention funding.

Increased funding and systemic changes aim to boost local authority homelessness prevention.

Significant concerns exist regarding B&B suitability for temporary accommodation, particularly for children.

Thousands of families exceed statutory six-week B&B limit due to housing shortages.

MHCLG acknowledges B&B accommodation is sub-optimal but necessary for statutory duties.

MHCLG requires B&B elimination plans from local authorities exceeding statutory limits.

HAST actively supports local authorities to reduce B&B reliance through ongoing reviews and advice.

Out-of-area homeless placements significantly increasing, causing disruption for households, particularly children.

MHCLG lacks crucial data on distance of out-of-area placements for homeless families

Anecdotal evidence indicates local authorities are 'swapping' homeless households between areas

MHCLG recognises need for stronger data on household placements, improving information sharing

DWP acknowledges 45% of households face Local Housing Allowance shortfall amid rising rents

DWP unable to quantify system-wide consequences of increasing Local Housing Allowance rates

Freezing Local Housing Allowance rates amidst rising rents increases homelessness and evictions

Local authorities face rising 'Temporary Accommodation Subsidy loss' from outdated LHA rates

DWP temporary accommodation subsidy remains below full costs; MHCLG's consideration unclear

England lacks a statutory homelessness strategy despite past committee recommendation and government agreement

Submissions highlight key priorities for homelessness strategy, including cross-government and voluntary sector support

Inter-ministerial group plans cross-government homelessness strategy for delivery by 2025

MHCLG acknowledges poor coordination of homelessness funding, committing to synthesise multiple grant streams

Home Office competition for accommodation drove up rents, prompting new coordination efforts

Affordable housing supply hampered by economic challenges, leading to missed Homes England targets

Stakeholders advocate reforms, funding consolidation, and partnerships to boost affordable housing supply

MHCLG identifies site viability and planning policy as key housing supply barriers, taking various actions

Address critical skills shortages in construction within the long-term housing strategy by early 2025

MHCLG unable to commit to specific social housing targets for forthcoming strategy

Supported housing plays essential role in preventing homelessness, National Housing Federation submission highlights

Previous report on supported housing sector published in November

MHCLG to consult on supported housing regulations and licensing scheme in early 2025.

Lack of clear standards for supported housing licensing schemes risks inconsistency.

Correspondence 1 letter