Issue

homelessness

154 stories · discussed at 235 council meetings · 32 councils

Councils are focusing on new strategies, increasing housing supply, and managing rising temporary accommodation costs to address homelessness.

Croydon Council approved a new strategy in September 2026 to tackle homelessness and boost housing supply, projecting £10 million in savings by 2030. Hammersmith and Fulham Council also unveiled its 2026-2031 Housing Strategy in September 2026, prioritising homelessness prevention. Southwark Council overhauled its Housing Allocations Scheme in September 2026 for fairer social housing distribution. Hackney Council's Housing and Homelessness Scrutiny Commission launched a review into private landlord licensing in September 2026, noting a 29% decrease in prevention success since 2025/26.

Several councils are addressing temporary accommodation challenges. Brent Council is facing escalating costs, with an anticipated £38 million expenditure on nightly paid accommodation and a forecast £9.5 million overspend in September 2026. Lewisham Council's Mayor and Cabinet approved spending £135 million on temporary accommodation over three years in September 2026. Waltham Forest Council's Cabinet approved an £18 million investment in September 2026 to convert four council-owned buildings into 60 temporary homes.

Croydon Council is set to build 1,000 new homes to tackle homelessness and has reduced void turnaround times by 55% since March 2023. Redbridge Council is developing a new Supported Housing Strategy, including short-term housing for those experiencing homelessness. Looking ahead, Tower Hamlets' Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub Committee is scheduled to meet on 5 October 2026, and Waltham Forest's Shareholder Committee on 6 October 2026.

Key facts

  1. Croydon Council approved a new strategy in September 2026, projecting £10 million in savings by 2030. Source
  2. Brent Council is facing an anticipated £38 million expenditure on nightly paid accommodation. Source
  3. Lewisham Council approved spending £135 million on temporary accommodation over three years. Source
  4. Hackney Council experienced a 29% decrease in successful homelessness prevention outcomes since 2025/26. Source
  5. Waltham Forest Council approved an £18 million investment for 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 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.

Stories, page 10

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Balham Neighbourhood Wardens Pilot Launched to Address Resident Concerns Balham residents' views on town centre improvements have directly shaped plans for the area, with a new Neighbourhood Wardens pilot set to be launched. Wandsworth 25 February 2026
  8. 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