Government must be more realistic if 2010 homelessness targets are to be met 

The government must be more realistic if it is serious about helping London's boroughs meet its target to halve the number of families in temporary accommodation by 2010.

That's the key message from London Councils' Chairman Councillor Merrick Cockell in a speech to the government's London Region Homelessness Summit at the Emirates Stadium, London today (Wednesday).

Councillor Cockell outlined the scale of the temporary accommodation challenge in the capital, as well as some of the excellent work currently underway across London to prevent households from becoming homeless.

But he called on the government to define temporary accommodation in a more realistic and pragmatic way - and accept that good quality private rented homes can be more than 'temporary accommodation'.

Councillor Cockell said:

"London Councils believes the time is ripe for the government to be pragmatic on the way temporary accommodation is defined. While secure tenancies provide stability and have a positive role to play, it must be recognised that there are many households in London in good quality, stable private rented leased homes which are currently classified as temporary accommodation.

"We also believe the current definition of temporary accommodation needs to be reviewed to reflect the reality experienced by households currently living in long term secure settled leased accommodation."

Councillor Cockell also suggested that the government should be less stringent in the way it defines boroughs' statutory duty to re-house homeless households - particularly bearing in mind the pressures faced in the capital:

He said: "Recognising the limited stock available, we have been pressing the case that councils placing households in temporary to permanent housing schemes should be recognised as having carried out their statutory duty to re-house homeless households - in a context where such homes will eventually move from the private rented sector to the social housing sector."

Notes for Editors

A full copy of Cllr Cockell's speech is available from the London Councils' press office.

More background to Cllr Cockell's comments on redefining temporary accommodation can be found in London Councils Our vision for homes in London.