Homelessness Reduction Bill Passes Through Parliament

A new law that will require councils to provide earlier intervention to prevent homelessness has passed through parliament.

The Homelessness Reduction Bill also requires councils to provide advice and help to all affected, not just those protected under existing laws. The private member’s bill, introduced by Conservative MP Bob Blackman, has received government backing.

Mr. Blackman said: “I am immensely proud of everything that has been accomplished in this bill. It is profoundly wrong that homeless people who approach their council for help can be turned away to sleep on the street at the moment and that legislation in this area hasn’t changed for the last four decades.”

The Homelessness Reduction Bill means councils will have to start assessing those at risk of being made homeless 56 days before losing their home. Currently, the threat of homelessness is defined as starting 28 days before the person loses their home. The number of people sleeping rough went up by 16% last year, from 3,569 in 2015 to 4,134 in 2016.

According to the BBC, the government took the decision to back the private member’s bill last year, with Communities Secretary Sajid Javid saying ministers were “determined to do all we can to help those who lose their homes and provide them with the support they need to get their lives back on track”.

However, local government representatives feel that without additional funding and support for councils, the additional legal protections introduced by the bill will mean little in practice.

Lord Porter, chairman of the Local Government Association, said: “It is clear that legislative change alone will not resolve homelessness. It is crucial that the government recognise and address the wider factors that are increasing homelessness, such as the lack of affordable housing and welfare reforms. Without this, the bill will struggle to achieve its aim of reducing homelessness.”

“Councils need powers and funding to address the widening gap between incomes and rents, resume their historic role as a major builder of new affordable homes and join up all local services – such as health, justice and skills. This is the only way to deliver our collective ambition to end homelessness.”

The government has said it will provide an extra £61m to meet the costs incurred by local councils.