To: Robert Jenrick MP

Renew the Homelessness Reduction Act funding

Renew the funding for the Homelessness Reduction Act that is due to stop this year, in order to enable local authorities to make good on their new role of prevention.

Why is this important?

The Homelessness Reduction Act (2017) gave new duties and roles to local housing authorities to prevent homelessness experiences from ever happening in the first place. In addition councils must support people out of homelessness, whether classed as 'priority need' or not. (Haringey Council, 2019)
Following the introduction of the Act, £72 million was given to local councils by the government, to be used in combatting homelessness (Barton and Wilson, 2020)
This funding runs out in 2020 and there is no indication that it will be renewed. (Butler, 2019)
Given that the new role of local authorities to prevent homelessness is already being neglected by some as they don't have the fund to implement it (Geraghty, 2018), the renewal of this funding is even more important to encourage more local authorities to take responsibility and engage with the program.