Homelessness

All of our housing policy work aims to increase housing supply, to increase affordable housing and contribute to reducing homelessness.

The Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local authorities to develop a homelessness strategy for their area and local authorities have a duty to assist those individuals or families that meet a statutory definition of homelessness in their area. Each London borough has a strategy which looks at preventing homelessness and providing accommodation and support for homeless people.

Over recent years there has been a significant reduction in rough sleeping – the most visible form of homelessness - but economic pressures such as unemployment, social housing funding cuts and benefits changes will increase pressure on this overall downward trend.

Movement of homeless people across borough boundaries can present a unique set of challenges mainly centring on children’s education and safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. This aspect in particular is addressed by our Notify service which tracks the placement and movement of homeless families placed in accommodation by London local authorities. Read more about Notify

Grant funding for homelessness groups

London Councils works with the charity and voluntary sector through its grants programme. You can read more about the homelessness projects we fund, by visiting our grants website. Our grants programme is currently under review and some funding may be passing back to individual boroughs to distribute.

Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards

We run the Andy Ludlow Homelessness Awards each year which recognises and rewards innovative homelessness projects in the capital. The 2010 winner was an NHS project, The London Pathway. Read more about the Andy Ludlow awards