Homelessness

Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 7 June 2011.

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Photo of Jeremy Corbyn Jeremy Corbyn Labour, Islington North

To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanism he plans to put in place to ensure that provision of services for homeless people remains a priority for local authorities under the provisions of the Localism Bill.

Photo of Grant Shapps Grant Shapps The Minister for Housing

The reforms in the Localism Bill will assist councils in providing a robust safety net for the homeless. Local housing authorities will still be required to secure suitable accommodation for households who are eligible for assistance, homeless through no fault of their own and in 'priority need' (eg families that include a dependant child or pregnant woman and people who are vulnerable for some reason).

The proposed homelessness provisions in the Localism Bill provide local authorities with additional flexibility so that they can also bring the duty to an end with an offer of accommodation in the private rented sector without requiring the applicant's agreement.

We are putting additional protection in place for those provided with private rented accommodation ensuring the tenancy must be for a fixed term of at least 12 months and the homelessness duty will recur if the applicant becomes homeless again within two years through no fault of their own, regardless of whether they still have priority need.

We have maintained the level of investment in homelessness grant for local authorities and the voluntary sector, with provision of £400 million in total over the next four years. We have established a new cross-Government working group on homelessness, bringing together Ministers from eight Government Departments, working with Local Government Association as well as voluntary sector partners to address the complex and multiple causes of homelessness and rough sleeping.

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