Issue

Homelessness

154 stories · discussed at 236 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 9

  1. Hillingdon Council Approves New Strategy to Combat Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Hillingdon Council has approved a new strategy aimed at tackling homelessness and rough sleeping across the borough, with a significant focus on prevention and increasing... Hillingdon 23 March 2026
  2. Southwark Council Awards £12.8m in Contracts for Mental Health Supported Housing Southwark Council's Cabinet has approved the award of eight contracts totalling £12.88 million for the provision of mental health supported housing, aiming to provide stable and... Southwark 20 March 2026
  3. Islington Council's Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee reviews homelessness prevention and temporary accommodation Islington Council's Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee has reviewed the council's performance in tackling homelessness, focusing on homelessness prevention and temporary... Islington 19 March 2026
  4. Westminster City Council Adopts New Housing Strategy for 2026-2031 Westminster City Council's Cabinet has adopted a new housing strategy for 2026-2031, aiming to improve housing quality, prevent homelessness, and ensure well-managed homes for... Westminster 18 March 2026
  5. Homelessness risk and temporary accommodation costs debated Tower Hamlets Council's Audit Committee has debated significant concerns regarding the risk of homelessness and the escalating costs associated with temporary accommodation. Tower Hamlets 15 March 2026
  6. Croydon's homelessness services improve customer experience with new appointment system and faster phone response Croydon's homelessness services are undergoing significant improvements to enhance the customer experience, following a review by the Housing Assurance Board. The board, which... Croydon 15 March 2026
  7. 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
  8. 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