Homelessness Reduction Act

The Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee will hold an evidence session on the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act on Tuesday 23 April when they take evidence from Heather Wheeler MP, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, homelessness charities and local government.

• Watch on Parliament TV: Homelessness Reduction Act - One Year On
• Inquiry: Homelessness Reduction Act - One Year On
• Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee

Background

The Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced to the House of Commons by HCLG Committee member, Bob Blackman MP. It became law in 2017 and was implemented by the Government and local authorities in 2018. It places new duties on local authorities in England to prevent and relieve homelessness through improved intervention at an earlier stage. The aim of the new legislation is to reduce the number of household owed a homelessness duty, and lessen the use of temporary accommodation. The Government has pledged to review the effectiveness of the new measures and will publish a final report in March 2020.

Purpose of the session

The session will investigate what impact the Act has had in the time it has been in operation. It will examine how local authorities have adapted the services they provide and the additional costs this has placed on them. It will look at how outcomes have changed for people at risk of becoming homeless or who are in need of accommodation. The Committee will also consider whether reforms could be made to improve the legislation, both from the perspective of local authorities and their service users.

Witnesses

Tuesday 23 April 2019, Room 6, Palace of Westminster

Panel One: Charities (at 4.30pm)

• Jon Sparkes, Chief Executive, Crisis 
• Deborah Garvie, Policy Manager, Shelter

Panel Two: Local Authorities (at 5.00pm)

• Councillor Adele Morris, Deputy Chair of the Environment, Economy, Housing and Transport Board, Local Government Association
• Councillor Farah Khanum Hussain, London Councils

Panel Three: Government (at 5.30pm)

• Heather Wheeler MP, Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Jeremy Swain, Deputy Director, Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Division, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Further information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch committees

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