Homelessness numbers are expected to decrease immediately, according to the Housing Secretary. Steve Reed expressed concern over the rising count of children in temporary housing and urged housing companies to take bold steps in construction efforts. He acknowledged the heartbreaking sight of people sleeping on the streets and hinted at reducing affordable housing building requirements in London to prioritize overall housing development.
Recent data revealed a record high of 172,420 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England by June, the highest figure in two decades. Reed emphasized the importance of reversing this trend and preventing an increase in homelessness during the current governmental term.
Reed emphasized the urgency to address the housing crisis promptly, aiming to work closely with social housing builders to accelerate progress. He highlighted the government’s commitment of an additional £84 million to assist rough sleepers, promising immediate visible changes.
A meeting with major players in the social and affordable housing sector was held to solicit innovative proposals for utilizing the £39 billion government investment. The government’s long-term plan aims to construct 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade, with the bidding process set to commence in February.
Efforts to enhance housing delivery include reforms to Right to Buy and the introduction of a 10-year settlement plan for social housing rents. Concerns were raised following leaked plans suggesting a potential decrease in the affordable homes requirement for builders in London, but Reed emphasized the need for new construction to address housing shortages effectively.
Despite the ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes in England by 2029, housing experts, including Prof Paul Cheshire, have voiced skepticism about the feasibility of meeting this goal. Cheshire cautioned that the current trajectory may fall short of the government’s housing construction aspirations.
