The Housing Secretary has pledged that homelessness numbers will decrease immediately. Steve Reed expressed concern over the rising number of children in temporary accommodation and urged housing companies to take bold steps in construction to address the issue. He acknowledged the need to focus on building homes and hinted at potential reductions in affordable housing requirements in London.
Recent data revealed a record high of 172,420 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England. Reed emphasized the urgency to tackle this issue during his tenure, aiming to work closely with housing developers to expedite the process and reduce homelessness promptly.
To address the crisis, an extra £84 million has been allocated to assist rough sleepers before winter. Reed engaged with major players in the housing sector to brainstorm innovative ways to utilize the government’s £39 billion investment for building social and affordable homes.
The government aims to construct 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade, with bidding for the program set to begin in February. Various measures have been implemented to enhance housing delivery, including reforms to Right to Buy and establishing a 10-year settlement for social housing rents.
Despite leaked plans suggesting a potential cut in affordable homes requirements, Reed emphasized the importance of jumpstarting housing construction to provide permanent housing solutions for those in need. Experts have cautioned that the government’s target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029 may face challenges, with concerns raised about meeting the ambitious goal.