A duty on councils to temporarily house homeless people who are not in priority need has been stripped out from a new bill that aims to reduce homelessness.
A new version of the Homelessness Reduction Bill was published following negotiations with interest groups including the Local Government Association (LGA) . The bill would place duties on councils to take actions to prevent homelessness..
The government will support the Homelessness Reduction Bill, the communities secretary has announced.
Sajid Javid confirmed ministers will back the bill, which would impose duties on councils to prevent homelessness. Ministers had previously said they would consider options, including legislation, to prevent homelessness but until today had stopped short of supporting the bill.
Inside Housing reported:
“Mr Javid said: “No one should have to sleep rough on the streets. We want to build a country that works for everyone, not just the privileged few. That’s why we are 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.”
The bill, tabled by Conservative backbench MP Bob Blackman, has been supported by homelessness charities. It is made up of 12 measures (see below).
A new version of the bill was published last week following negotiations with bodies including the Local Government Association. The original bill included a new duty on councils to provide emergency temporary accommodation for 56 days to people with a local connection but who are not in priority need and who have nowhere safe to stay. Councils have said that such a duty would place too much pressure on local authorities, which are already struggling to keep up with spiralling homelessness demand. This duty has now been removed from the bill, on the basis that it would be too costly.”