Issue

Homelessness

156 stories · discussed at 243 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 13

  1. Richmond Council Faces £3.885 Million Overspend Due to Homelessness and Children's Social Care Costs Richmond Council is facing a projected overspend of £3.885 million, primarily due to rising costs in homelessness and children's social care, according to the Corporate Q2... Richmond upon Thames 22 November 2025
  2. Barnet Faces £31M Bill Without Action on Temporary Housing Barnet Council faces a potential £31 million budget shortfall by 2030 if action isn't taken to reduce the reliance on temporary housing. Key barriers to successfully... Barnet 20 November 2025
  3. Ombudsman Slams Lewisham's Homelessness Support, Orders Payouts After Failures in Ms. X's Case Lewisham Council has been ordered to pay compensation to a resident after the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) found fault in its handling of her homelessness... Lewisham 20 November 2025
  4. Homelessness Crisis Drives £2.2M Overspend in Richmond Richmond upon Thames is grappling with a significant homelessness crisis, leading to a projected £2.2 million overspend in the council's budget. The Adult Social Services,... Richmond upon Thames 18 November 2025
  5. Redbridge to Improve Housing Complaints Process Redbridge Council is set to improve its housing complaints process following a review by the Homes and Neighbourhoods Policy Development Committee, aiming to address... Redbridge 18 November 2025
  6. Redbridge Council Considers Travel Subsidy and Other Measures to Support Homeless Residents and Improve Housing Services Redbridge Council is considering offering a travel subsidy to homeless residents, alongside access to local facilities and services, as part of a broader effort to improve... Redbridge 18 November 2025
  7. Islington Council Addresses Housing Complaint Delays and Performance Islington Council is taking steps to address delays in handling housing complaints, according to a recent meeting of the Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee. The council's... Islington 16 November 2025
  8. Islington Council Survey: Temporary Accommodation Residents Generally Happy, Repair Delays Remain a Concern Islington Council's recent survey reveals that the majority of residents in temporary accommodation (TA) are happy with their housing, but concerns about repairs persist. The... Islington 16 November 2025