WIREDGOV

Cllr Peter Box, Local Government Association Housing spokesman, responds to new figures published yesterday revealing a rise in homelessness

"It is a tragedy when anyone becomes homeless and councils work hard to prevent it happening in the first place. This not only includes placing people in accommodation but also focuses on helping people develop the skills needed to find work or improving their health and wellbeing.

"Extra money announced in the Budget will help but councils also need the powers to tackle our housing crisis. Local authorities are desperate to build the new homes that meet local need but housing reforms that reduce rents and force councils to sell their homes will make building new homes increasingly difficult. This will only make finding emergency care for all homeless people and expanding the range of accommodation for homeless people, particularly those who are young, vulnerable, or with families more difficult.

"With 69,000 people already currently living in temporary accommodation, more than a million more on council waiting lists and annual homelessness spending of £330 million – there is a real fear that this lack of homes will increase homelessness and its associated costs further."

NOTES TO EDITORS

• Latest figures on homelessness can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-homelessness