Havering Vows To End Hotel Placements For At-Risk Families By 2030
A new homelessness strategy sets out four priorities as pressure on temporary accommodation continues to affect families and council finances.
By Sebastian Mann, Local Democracy Reporter
Havering Council has pledged to stop placing at-risk families in hotels and other nightly-paid accommodation by 2030.
The commitment forms part of a new homelessness and rough sleeping strategy intended to change how the council prevents homelessness, supports people in crisis and provides temporary accommodation.
Like authorities across London, Havering must help households to whom it owes a homelessness duty. A shortage of social housing and affordable private rented homes means hotels and bed-and-breakfast accommodation are sometimes used in emergencies.
The council says more than 15,000 households facing homelessness, as well as people sleeping rough, have approached it for help over the past five years.
It attributes the pressure to the effects of the Covid pandemic, the cost-of-living crisis, rising rents and a shortage of affordable homes in the private rented sector.
The strategy has four stated objectives: ending the use of nightly-paid and hotel accommodation by 2030; supporting people affected by exploitation and rough sleeping; improving families’ experience of temporary accommodation; and providing compassionate, empathetic customer care.
To reduce reliance on hotels, the council is considering longer-term options including modular homes, converting offices into residential accommodation and leasing properties for longer periods.
The report says relationship breakdown is the most common cause of homelessness locally. It also sets out support for people affected by begging, substance dependency, coercion, family breakdown and complex trauma.
It adds that street begging does not necessarily mean a person is sleeping rough. Any enforcement should therefore be proportionate and focused on harm or exploitation, alongside safeguarding and support.
The strategy is due to be considered by Havering Council’s overview and scrutiny committee.
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