Housing Secretary Steve Reed has pledged that homelessness numbers will decrease immediately. Reed expressed concern over the rising count of children living in temporary housing and urged social housing providers to take bold actions to address the issue. Acknowledging the heartbreaking sight of people sleeping on the streets, Reed hinted at reducing affordable housing construction requirements in London to prioritize home building.
Recent data revealed a record-breaking 172,420 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England, the highest in two decades. Reed emphasized the importance of reversing this trend during the current Parliament term. He emphasized the urgency of collaboration with social housing developers to expedite progress in tackling homelessness.
To address the crisis, an additional £84 million has been allocated to support rough sleepers before winter, with immediate impact expected. Reed convened with major players in the social and affordable housing sectors to brainstorm innovative ways to utilize the Government’s £39 billion investment commitment for housing.
The Government aims to construct 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade through a 10-year investment plan. Significant reforms have been initiated to boost housing delivery, including adjustments to Right to Buy schemes and introducing a new long-term agreement for social housing rents.
Concerns arose following leaked plans suggesting Reed’s consideration of reducing the affordable homes requirement for builders in London. Despite pressure from Labour MPs to abandon the proposal, Reed emphasized the need to stimulate social housing construction to provide stable housing for vulnerable groups. An official announcement on the revised plans is anticipated soon.
Amidst these efforts, housing experts caution that the Government’s target of building 1.5 million homes in England by 2029 may face challenges. Professor Paul Cheshire highlighted doubts about meeting this ambitious goal in a recent BBC Panorama interview.
As housing policies evolve, staying informed with Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News ensures quick access to relevant news updates.