Issue

Homelessness

163 stories · discussed at 242 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 12

  1. Tower Hamlets Approves New 10-Year Housing Strategy with £609 Million Investment Tower Hamlets Council has approved a new 10-year housing strategy aimed at delivering more homes, better homes, safer homes across the borough. The strategy, adopted at a... Tower Hamlets 22 February 2026
  2. Hillingdon Council Endorses New Community Safety Strategy Hillingdon Council's Cabinet has endorsed a new Community Safety Strategy for 2026-2029, outlining four key priorities to enhance safety across the borough. The strategy,... Hillingdon 22 February 2026
  3. HRA Rents to Increase by CPI + 1% for 2026/27 Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Cabinet has approved a rent increase for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) properties of 4.8% for the 2026/27 financial year. This increase, which... Hammersmith and Fulham 14 February 2026
  4. Hillingdon Council grapples with rising demand for temporary accommodation Hillingdon Council is grappling with significant pressure on its homelessness services, driven by a high demand for temporary accommodation and a growing strain on its budget.... Hillingdon 19 January 2026
  5. Harrow Council Intensifies Fight Against Illegal HMOs with Focus on Headstone Harrow Council is intensifying its efforts to combat the proliferation of illegal Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) across the borough, with a particular focus on areas like... Harrow 18 January 2026
  6. Islington Rents Soar, Evictions Rise Due to Housing Benefit Freeze Islington faces a concerning rise in rents and evictions, exacerbated by a freeze in housing benefits, according to a recent meeting of the Homes and Communities Scrutiny... Islington 30 December 2025
  7. Islington Council Reviews Support for Tenants at Risk of Homelessness Through IHIS Service Islington Council is reviewing its support services for tenants at risk of homelessness, with a focus on the Independent Housing Intensive Support (IHIS) service. The review... Islington 22 December 2025
  8. Camden's Homelessness Partnership: Progress and Integrated Approach Camden's Health and Wellbeing Board convened on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, to discuss the progress and future aims of the Homelessness System Partnership. The partnership aims... Camden 21 December 2025