Issue

Homelessness

156 stories · discussed at 242 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are grappling with rising homelessness costs and implementing new strategies to increase housing supply and improve prevention.

Croydon Council approved a new strategy in September 2026 to tackle homelessness, aiming for £10 million in savings by 2030 by prioritising prevention and increasing housing supply. The council also plans to build 1,000 new homes and has reduced void turnaround times by 55% since March 2023. Meanwhile, Brent Council is facing escalating costs for temporary accommodation, with an anticipated £38 million expenditure.

Hackney Council is investing £145 million in its Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Supply Transformation Programme for 2026/27, but saw a 29% decrease in prevention success in the first four months of 2026/27, attributed to private rented sector evictions. Waltham Forest Council approved an £18 million investment in September 2026 to convert four buildings into 60 temporary homes for homeless families.

Lewisham Council is set to spend £135 million on temporary accommodation over the next three years, with Mayor and Cabinet approving procurement in September 2026. Hammersmith and Fulham Council's new Housing Strategy for 2026-2031 includes preventing homelessness through early intervention. Councils will continue to address homelessness in upcoming meetings, including Ealing Cabinet on 07 October 2026 and Brent Cabinet on 12 October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Croydon Council approved a new strategy in September 2026 to tackle homelessness, projecting £10 million in savings by 2030. Source
  2. Brent Council anticipates spending £38 million on nightly paid temporary accommodation, forecasting a £9.5 million overspend in Q1 2026/27. Source
  3. Hackney Council allocated £145 million for its Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Supply Transformation Programme for 2026/27. Source 1 Source 2
  4. Hackney Council reported a 29% decrease in successful homelessness prevention and relief outcomes in the first four months of 2026/27. Source 1 Source 2
  5. Waltham Forest Council approved an £18 million investment in September 2026 to convert four buildings into 60 temporary homes. 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 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 10

  1. Croydon Council Addresses Temporary Accommodation Quality Concerns with New Landlord Scheme Croydon Council is implementing measures to address concerns over the quality of temporary accommodation and improve the experience of residents. The Housing Assurance Board met... Croydon 15 March 2026
  2. Croydon Council Implements New Strategy to Tackle Homelessness with Demand Management Focus Croydon Council is intensifying its efforts to combat homelessness with a new strategy focusing on demand management and improved customer experience. The Housing Assurance... Croydon 15 March 2026
  3. Enfield Council to distribute £7.4m crisis and resilience fund Enfield Council's Cabinet has approved the distribution of a £7.4 million annual fund aimed at providing crisis support and building resilience for residents facing financial... Enfield 15 March 2026
  4. Barnet Council Enhances Care Leaver Transition Planning Following Ofsted Feedback Barnet Council is enhancing its transition planning for care-experienced young people, incorporating feedback from a recent Ofsted focused visit. The Children and Education... Barnet 14 March 2026
  5. Haringey Council Accepts £2.1m Grant for Rough Sleeping Prevention Haringey Council has accepted a significant grant of £2,137,751 from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to bolster its efforts in preventing and... Haringey 14 March 2026
  6. Haringey Council Approves Homelessness Strategy 2026-2027 Haringey Council's Cabinet has approved the Haringey Homelessness Strategy 2026-2027, a comprehensive plan developed over more than a year following a homelessness review and... Haringey 14 March 2026
  7. Harrow Launches New Strategy to Prevent Homelessness Through Early Intervention and Partnership Harrow Council has launched a new strategy aimed at preventing homelessness before it reaches crisis point, focusing on early intervention and partnership working to support... Harrow 13 March 2026
  8. Croydon Secures £2m Developer Funds for Transport Infrastructure Upgrades Croydon is set to benefit from over £2 million in developer funds secured through Section 106 agreements, aimed at enhancing the borough's transport infrastructure and... Croydon 10 March 2026