Dame Louise Casey steps back from homelessness role

Having only been appointed in February, Dame Louise Casey has ‘stepped back’ from her role as the government's chief advisor on homelessness.

The coronavirus outbreak has seen Casey redirect her efforts to lead the government's homelessness task force, and her surprise announcement has sparked concerns of a strategy vacuum as hundreds of thousands of tenants face possible eviction over rent arrears accrued during the coronavirus pandemic.

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of homelessness charity Crisis, said that Casey had made ‘extraordinary progress’ in her role, but said that now was the time to ‘redouble our efforts’ in tackling homelessness and stressing that it was vitally important that her departure does not leave a ‘leadership vacuum’.

Charities and campaigners are bracing for the imminent lifting of the eviction ban, which could lead to hundreds of thousands of people made homeless.

The government’s strategy is to meet its target of ending rough sleeping by 2024. However, there are signs that rough sleeping is increasing again.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “I would like to thank Dame Louise for her contribution at such a challenging time, which has led to so many rough sleepers being helped off the streets and kept safe from coronavirus. Her work leading the rough sleeping taskforce will ensure as many people as possible who have been brought in do not return to sleeping rough.

“Our plans for longer-term accommodation – 3,300 homes this year alone – and tailored support, backed by half a billion pounds of funding this year and next, will help us to meet our commitment to end rough sleeping once and for all.”