Issue

Homelessness

163 stories · discussed at 244 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are approving new strategies to combat homelessness and manage temporary accommodation costs.

Brent Council approved a five-year action plan to combat homelessness and rough sleeping on Monday 12 October 2026, aiming to prevent homelessness for 42% of households. In September 2026, Croydon Council approved a new strategy to tackle homelessness and boost housing supply, projecting £10 million in savings by 2030. Hammersmith and Fulham Council also unveiled its new Housing Strategy for 2026-2031 in September 2026, with preventing homelessness as a key priority.

Ealing Council's Cabinet approved a new policy on Wednesday 7 October 2026 to standardise the placement of homeless households in temporary accommodation. Brent Council is facing escalating costs for temporary accommodation, with an anticipated expenditure of £38 million on nightly paid accommodation, as highlighted by a councillor in September 2026. Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet approved an £18 million investment in September 2026 to convert four buildings into 60 temporary homes for homeless families.

Croydon Council plans to build 1,000 new homes to address homelessness and increase housing supply, as discussed in September 2026. Enfield Council's Cabinet approved a £7.3 million budget realignment in September 2026, partly due to pressures in homelessness services. Upcoming discussions on homelessness are scheduled for the Merton Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Lambeth Council on 14 October 2026, and the Kensington and Chelsea Housing & Communities Select Committee on 19 October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Brent Council approved a five-year action plan to combat homelessness and rough sleeping on Monday 12 October 2026. Source
  2. Ealing Council's Cabinet approved a new policy for placing homeless households in temporary accommodation on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. Source
  3. Croydon Council approved a new strategy to tackle homelessness and boost housing supply on Wednesday, 23 September 2026. Source
  4. Brent Council is facing an anticipated expenditure of £38 million on nightly paid temporary accommodation. Source
  5. Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet approved an £18 million investment to convert four buildings into 60 temporary homes on Tuesday, 8 September 2026. Source
About this summary

This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on, with background from Wikipedia. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 14 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 17

  1. Wandsworth Council Faces £1.6M Overspend Due to Housing and Health Pressures Wandsworth Council is facing a projected £1.6 million overspend, primarily driven by increasing demands on housing and health services. The council addressed these financial... Wandsworth 26 September 2025
  2. Hackney Scrutiny Commission to Review Housing Ombudsman Special Investigation Hackney Council's Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission will review the Housing Ombudsman's special investigation into the council, as part of its work programme for 2025/26. Hackney 24 September 2025
  3. Westminster to Reshape Housing Service Amid Homelessness Surge Westminster City Council is set to implement a hybrid delivery model for its Housing Solutions Service (HSS) in April 2026, as the borough grapples with a significant surge in... Westminster 19 September 2025
  4. Debate Over Fate of Historic Altamira Villa Debate has ignited over the future of the historic Altamira villa in Brent, as the council considers its role in the redevelopment of the 1 Morland Gardens site. The council is... Brent 16 September 2025
  5. Brent Council Faces £15M Overspend on Temporary Accommodation Due to Rising Homelessness and Lack of Affordable Housing Brent Council is facing a significant financial challenge, with a £15.4 million overspend on temporary accommodation projected for the 2024/25 financial year. This substantially... Brent 16 September 2025
  6. Redbridge Council Faces £42m Budget Overspend Driven by Social Care and Homelessness Costs Redbridge Council is grappling with a significant budget shortfall, with a projected overspend of £42.033m for the 2025/26 financial year. The news comes from the Budgetary... Redbridge 15 September 2025
  7. Westminster Reviews Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Westminster City Council has reviewed its strategy for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping, a key priority for the council. The Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny... Westminster 14 September 2025
  8. Waltham Forest faces £31.4M budget overspend Waltham Forest is grappling with a significant budget overspend of £31.4 million, according to a recent report presented to the Budget Scrutiny Committee. Like many other local... Waltham Forest 8 September 2025