Rough sleepers are just the tip of the homelessness iceberg

Andrew Walker, managing the LGiU’s Homelessness Commission, Cllr Stephanie Cryan of LB Southwark and Dawn Eckersley of the East London Housing Partnership explain the depth of the housing crisis and how councils are responding The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 - part of the Government’s aim to halve rough sleeping by 2022 and eliminate it by 2027 - has expanded councils’ duties significantly and will fundamentally change their approach to the issue. But as our discussion reveals, rough sleeping is simply the most visible manifestation of homelessness, which also takes in the 80,000 plus households in temporary accommodation, and larger numbers in precarious housing, poor housing or reduced to ‘sofa surfing’ – all situations that could lead to homelessness at any time. This discussion explores how councils are responding to the Homelessness Reduction Act and its challenges, but as importantly, looks at the deep-seated causes of the current housing crisis, from a broken housing market, the impact of Universal Credit, the policy of selling off council homes, and the chronic failure to build new social housing. Further details of the LGiU Homelessness Commission, due to report later this year, and its interim recommendations can be found on the LGiU website. LGiU will be making a series of programmes with CLGdotTV on topics including democracy and elections, childrens’ services, the future of the high street, and more. Follow our eventbrite page to receive updates.