Govt. considers homelessness 'prevention duty' for councils
The British government is considering changes to the existing law in an attempt to tackle growing homelessness in the country.
The interest in a law change comes amid renewed concern in Westminster around rising homelessness. The communities and local government select committee has already launched an inquiry, while a new all-party parliamentary group on homelessness set up by Conservative MP David Mackintosh and held its first meeting on Wednesday.
According to media reports, ministers are looking closely at legislation introduced in Wales in 2015 which requires councils to take steps to help anyone at risk of homelessness, regardless of need.
Ministers have realized that forcing councils to intervene earlier to try to solve tenancy problems will drive down the rising numbers of households who are accepted as homeless, report said.
Campaigners and local authorities have welcomed the new prevention duty amid concerns that the homelessness crisis is spiraling out of control because of rising rents, insecure private tenancies and housing benefit reforms.
“The government’s commitment to consider options – including legislation – to prevent more people from becoming homeless could be the start of one of the most important developments for tackling homelessness in nearly 40 years,” Matt Downie, director of policy and external affairs at the charity Crisis, said.
However, there is skepticism among councils in homelessness hotspots such as London that a prevention duty alone will be enough to address a crisis caused primarily by the lack of affordable housing.
Under current English legislation, last adapted in 2002, a full duty of homelessness is in effect reserved for those deemed to be in priority need, which in practice means families with young children and pregnant mothers.
This means that people who do not qualify for priority help, including most single people and a number of vulnerable groups, including rough sleepers, are effectively told by some councils to fend for themselves.
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