Challenging Times

​In Britain, homelessness is not going away in 2022. If anything, things will get worse. There are many reasons.
Some are about housing supply, some about housing and other living costs and there are also issues about funding and provision of support. Seriously addressing homelessness takes commitment and also cross department working and cooperation in government. It also requires investment; but, arguably, not as much as not addressing it.
Some of the problems we have currently include:

• Diversion of housing for Air B&B, reducing rental stock
• Over-heated housing market, with sky high prices, in parts of the south west partly fuelled by people migrating from other areas
• Therefore rising rents
• Local Housing Allowance (Housing Benefit) having significantly decreased in value since 2010 and not relating to market rent levels
• Many people on low incomes at a time of rising costs
• Utility bills now becoming unaffordable for many people

There have been some attempts by government to provide help. The Rough Sleeper Initiative (RSI) funding that many councils get achieves great things; but it is about to be cut. And the Homelessness Reduction Act is built on many good intentions; but is too bureaucratic, putting capacity into processing people more than helping them.
What could be done?

• We need more regulation, maybe licensing, for Air B&B
• Second homes should face additional charges (Council Tax)
• Local Housing Allowance must be increased
• We need more help for people on low incomes
• There should be more affordable housing, such as provided by housing associations
• More, not less, funding, such as through RSI
• The Homelessness Reduction Act should be re-focussed onto helping people
• After years of cuts, councils need more funding and capacity to better play their vital role in this agenda

Ultimately, addressing homelessness or not is about prioritisation. Progress is definitely possible. But not obligatory.