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Reforms to tackle homelessness but concerns over ‘peanuts' funding

BILL: Draft legislation would require councils to do more to prevent people from becoming homeless. Stock image
BILL: Draft legislation would require councils to do more to prevent people from becoming homeless. Stock image BILL: Draft legislation would require councils to do more to prevent people from becoming homeless. Stock image

REFORMS aimed at reducing homelessness have cleared their first Commons test, amid warnings the government is offering "peanuts" to fund them.

Councils would be required to do more to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place under draft legislation proposed by Tory MP Bob Blackman (Harrow East).

His Homeless Reduction Bill received an unopposed second reading – with backing from Labour and the government – and will undergo further scrutiny as it bids to become law.

Conservative Mark Prisk and Labour's John Healey – both former housing ministers – led calls for the government to guarantee it will fully fund the costs of the new duties for councils, which are expected to amount to tens of millions of pounds.

Labour's Mike Gapes (Redbridge) said a report by the Association of Housing Advice Services, a group of housing specialists across London, believes the proposals in the Bill would lead to an estimated cost of £101 million across London's councils.

Mr Gapes said: "Frankly, £40 million from the government is peanuts compared with London alone having additional costs."

Labour's Lyn Brown (West Ham) added: "The government should not be in a position where it is passing the buck without the bucks."

Local government minister Marcus Jones confirmed "new funding" will be made available to councils for the new duties contained within the Bill, with talks ongoing with officials and representatives.

Mr Blackman's Bill requires local authorities to provide new homelessness services to all those affected - not just those who are protected under existing legislation.

It would place a duty on councils to help eligible people at risk of homelessness to secure accommodation 56 days before they are threatened with homelessness.

Those who do find themselves homeless would be given support for 56 days to find somewhere to live.

Opening the debate, Mr Blackman said: "If you are priority homeless, then the local authority will house you, probably in emergency accommodation, which is expensive to the local authority and not very suitable for the people who have to be housed.

"The non-priority homeless are told go out, sleep on the streets, sleep on a park bench or in a doorway, and you may be picked up by a charity under the No Second Night Out programme.

"That, to me, is an absolute national disgrace.

"At a time when we have employment at the highest level ever, a relatively low level of unemployment, a single person sleeping rough on our streets is a national disgrace - and we must combat it."

Mr Prisk said the proposals offer "real hope", adding: "I think this Bill offers a great opportunity to reduce but not remove homelessness.v

"I just make one rider if I can, and from the mood music I think there may be a good answer on this, I have to say to the minister that we can only hope for that progress if the government plays its part."