Warning over homelessness levels rising by a third

Homelessness charity Crisis has warned that the number of homeless people in England could increase by a third by 2024.

Following the latest Homelessness Monitor report from Heriot-Watt University, Crisis has stressed that the ending of Covid restrictions, alongside the end of Universal Credit uplift, could potentially result in a sharp rise in the number of homeless people.

Additionally, most councils believe that Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates and the benefit cap are likely to cause an increase in homelessness in their areas. As many as 97 per cent said the end of the eviction ban will lead to an increase in homelessness, while four in five said cut to Universal Credit will have the same impact.

Matt Downie, chief executive at Crisis, said: “The warning from these findings is clear, without action, more people will be forced to live without a place to call home. The protections put in place during the pandemic helped thousands of people off the streets and prevented many more from facing homelessness. It would be shameful for this progress to unravel before us, at a huge human cost and financial one for the local councils left to foot the bill.”

David Renard, housing spokesperson for the LGA, said: “Councils work incredibly hard on preventing homelessness and offering support to those who tragically find themselves in a difficult situation. Government support packages such as the temporary eviction ban and £20 Universal Credit uplift have been incredibly helpful throughout the pandemic, but with these now no longer in place, a cross-departmental plan around long-term social and financial resilience and homelessness prevention is urgently needed.

“As part of this plan, we would support removing the freeze and reviewing Local Housing Allowance rates, alongside new protections through the Renters Reform Bill, to ensure the private rented sector is accessible and secure for families coming through homelessness services.

“In the long term, creating more social housing is more important than ever. We want to see plans to give councils powers to build 100,000 social homes a year. This would shorten council housing waiting lists, reduce homelessness and support net zero ambitions, while delivering a multi-billion long-term boost to the economy.”