Seven councils are to receive a share of £1.9m to cut the number of homeless families placed in Bed and Breakfasts.
Half of funding allocated to Barking and Dagenham, Croydon, Hounslow, Crawley, Birmingham, Redbridge and Westminster will be provided up front, with further money being provided on condition of local success.
Communities minister Don Foster affirmed that lessons learnt from these councils would be shared across the country.
Westminster, Hounslow and Birmingham are among councils receiving a share of the £1.9m fund.Only 15 councils account for nearly 80% of all families housed in Bed and Breakfast accomodation for longer than the stipulated six week period.
Foster said: ‘This isn’t just a short term fix about cutting numbers - I want these councils to find long-term solutions to homelessness in their areas.
‘They have a legal duty to help these families, and with this funding I expect them to ensure that no family need ever be stuck in this unsuitable accommodation for weeks on end.’
