Ellie Ames 01 November 2023

DCN writes to Hunt over temporary accommodation pressures

DCN writes to Hunt over temporary accommodation pressures image
Image: SeventyFour / Shutterstock.com

Following a summit attended by 158 councils, the District Councils’ Network (DCN) has warned chancellor Jeremy Hunt about ‘unprecedented’ numbers of people turning to councils in the face of homelessness.

The letter to Mr Hunt, signed by DCN chairman Sam Chapman-Allen and Eastbourne Borough Council leader Stephen Holt, said the situation for local authorities was becoming ‘untenable’.

They said councils had no option but to increase their use of temporary accommodation, which threatened to overwhelm their budgets.

The letter says: ‘Without urgent intervention, the existence of our safety net is under threat.

‘The danger is that we have no option but to start withdrawing services which currently help so many families to avoid hitting crisis point.

‘There will also be a knock-on impact on other cherished council services, which councils could also have to scale back, and on other parts of the public sector – such as the NHS – which will be left to pick up the pieces.’

Cllr Chapman-Allen and Cllr Holt said they believed there was a way forward, and called on the Government to use the Autumn Statement to raise Local Housing Allowance rates and provide additional funding for Discretionary Housing Payments and the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

This week, City Hall told the Government it must act to avoid ‘spiralling’ homelessness this winter after new data showed rising rough sleeping across the capital.

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Part Time Finance Administrator

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Finance AdministratorPermanent, Part Time£25,081 per annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Senior Customer Services Adviser (Housing Repairs

Mansfield District Council
£28,598 - £33,699 per annum
Mansfield is a town of towns at the centre of things in Nottinghamshire - a place of many strong connections Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

No Wrong Door Deputy Manager

North Yorkshire Council
From £47,181 up to £51,356 per annum pro rata
We’re looking for a passionate, driven, and dynamic professional to join our management team within our innovative No Wrong Door (NWD) service. Scarborough, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Senior Resource Centre Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£34,434 - £38,220 per annum pro rata
You will work closely with families and other professionals to ensure that you have sound knowledge of the children you are caring for Morton on Swale, Northallerton
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council

Social Worker

North Yorkshire Council
£38,220 - £42,839 per annum, pro rata
Our Family Assessment and Support Teams you will work with a range of children and their families, carers and networks. Selby, North Yorkshire
Recuriter: North Yorkshire Council
Linkedin Banner