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Homelessness

167 stories · discussed at 266 council meetings · 33 councils

Councils are currently focusing on increasing temporary accommodation supply and developing strategies to prevent homelessness and boost housing.

Tower Hamlets Council's Cabinet approved plans in October 2026 to acquire commercial buildings for 180 new temporary homes, aiming to reduce costly out-of-borough placements. Brent Council's Cabinet approved a five-year plan in October 2026 to improve temporary accommodation quality, while Ealing Council's Cabinet adopted a new three-zone policy for placements. Brent Council is also facing anticipated expenditure of £38 million on nightly paid accommodation, with a forecasted £9.5 million overspend, as discussed in September 2026.

Several councils are implementing strategies to prevent homelessness and increase housing supply. Hackney Council's 'no fixed abode' market licenses helped two individuals secure housing and income in October 2026. Brent Council's Cabinet approved a community housing project for 19 affordable homes in October 2026, and its five-year plan aims to prevent homelessness for 42% of households. Croydon Council approved a strategy in September 2026 to save £10 million by 2030, prevent homelessness earlier, and increase housing supply, also planning 1,000 new homes.

Key facts

  1. Tower Hamlets Council's Cabinet approved plans in October 2026 to acquire commercial buildings for 180 new temporary homes. Source
  2. Hackney Council's 'no fixed abode' market licenses helped two individuals secure housing and income in October 2026. Source
  3. Brent Council's Cabinet approved a five-year plan in October 2026 to combat homelessness and rough sleeping, aiming to prevent homelessness for 42% of households. Source
  4. Ealing Council's Cabinet approved a new policy in October 2026 to standardise the placement of homeless households in temporary accommodation. Source
  5. Croydon Council approved a Temporary Accommodation Strategy and Action Plan in September 2026, projecting £10 million in savings by 2030. 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 22 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 14

  1. Merton Council Faces £4.1M Budget Shortfall Despite Financial Improvement; Housing Crisis, Planning, Adult Learning, and Sustainable Communities Also Addressed Merton Council is grappling with a £4.1 million budget shortfall, despite showing signs of financial improvement, according to a recent cabinet meeting. Merton 28 November 2025
  2. Haringey Council Aims to End Rough Sleeping, Sets Ambitious Targets Haringey Council is intensifying its efforts to eradicate rough sleeping in the borough, building on a 33% reduction achieved since 2022. At a Full Council meeting on Monday,... Haringey 28 November 2025
  3. Hillingdon Council Faces £30M Overspend Due to Social Care Demand and Savings Shortfalls Hillingdon Council is facing a significant £30.2 million overspend, primarily driven by increasing demand for social care services. Adult Social Care demand is contributing... Hillingdon 23 November 2025
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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