The Housing Secretary has pledged that the number of people experiencing homelessness will decline immediately. Steve Reed expressed concern about the rising number of children in temporary accommodation and urged social housing developers to take significant action. He emphasized the urgency of addressing the issue of individuals sleeping on the streets.
Acknowledging the need to prioritize housing construction, Reed hinted at reducing affordable home building requirements in London. Recent statistics show a record high of 172,420 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England, the highest number in two decades.
Reed emphasized the importance of reducing homelessness, stating that it would be a personal failure if the numbers do not decrease by the end of the current Parliament. He emphasized the need to work closely with social housing builders to expedite the process and address the moral implications of the current situation.
To tackle the issue, an additional £84 million has been allocated to assist rough sleepers before winter, with immediate visible changes expected. Reed recently met with major players in the social and affordable housing sector to discuss utilizing the £39 billion government investment effectively.
The government aims to build 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade, with bidding for the program set to commence in February. Various measures, including reforms to Right to Buy and a new long-term settlement for social housing rents, have been introduced to enhance housing delivery.
Despite leaked plans suggesting a potential reduction in affordable homes requirements in London, Reed emphasized the necessity of social housing construction to provide permanent housing solutions for those in need. Housing experts have expressed concerns about the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes in England by 2029, with doubts raised about its achievability.