On 11 November, the Housing, Communities and Local Government Select Committee questioned Secretary of State Steve Reed on the performance of his department, for the first time since Mr Reed took up the post in early September.
A number of issues directly related to homelessness were discussed throughout, with the session beginning with a focus on rising levels of homelessness.
Committee Chair Florence Eshalomi MP quoted a recent Crisis report that documented and evidenced this rise throughout the past year. Rising levels of rough sleeping and people living in temporary accommodation have also been confirmed in the latest official government statistics.
In response, the Secretary of State stated “we have inherited [from the previous government] a crisis, our job is to solve it.”
He then referenced a number of measures the Government has taken to reduce levels of homelessness in the past year, including the passage of the Renters’ Rights Act, £1 billion pledged to prevent and end homelessness, and a further £86 million pledged last month to address winter pressures.
A cross-government approach to ending and preventing homelessness
Further questioning the Secretary of State, Committee Chair Florence Eshalomi asked if “your work is being hampered” by other government departments, specifically citing increased homelessness caused by asylum accommodation policy and issues with people leaving prison.
Steve Reed replied that “we need to be working across all parts of government to prevent homelessness,” acknowledging that the high levels of homelessness the country is currently experiencing has “many contributing factors.” Specifically, he noted the high number of people sleeping rough who have mental health issues, challenges faced by people leaving care when trying to secure a home, and issues facing those leaving the armed forces.
Local Housing Allowance rates and homelessness
The Secretary of State was also pressed by the Committee Chair on the case for unfreezing Local Housing Allowance rates, citing a joint letter signed by Homeless Link and over 40 other housing and homelessness organisations calling for this change.
Florence Eshalomi asked if this issue was something he had “discussed was colleagues” ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Responding, Steve Reed stated it was “absolutely” something discussed but he could not share further details prior to the upcoming Budget.
He agreed though “it is certainly one of the causes which is driving the higher rates of families in temporary accommodation.” He added that further discussions with the Treasury and the Department for Work and Pensions would take place on these issues.
The publication of the Homelessness Strategy
Having confirmed that Steve Reed would take up the role of Chair of the Interministerial Group on Tackling Homelessness and Rough Sleeping, with Mr Reed stating that the first meeting would take place in “a couple of weeks,” Florence Eshalomi asked when the Homelessness Strategy which the Group is tasked with developing would be published.
In reply, Steve Reed confirmed that the group would be “working towards” publication of the strategy, but cautioned that “with new Ministers coming in to post we need to take time to see where we are.” He added though that his team are working “at pace.”
Pressed later in the session by Liberal Democrat MP Will Forster on whether the previous commitments to publish both the Homelessness Strategy and Housing Strategy by the end of the year still stood, the Secretary of State declined to make that commitment. He stated that “it would be my intention” to publish the strategies before the end of January 2026.
Commenting on the outcome of the committee session, Homeless Link CEO Rick Henderson stated:
“The Secretary of State’s acknowledgement of the need for coordinated work across all levels of government to end and prevent homelessness is welcome, and we look forward to seeing accountability for performance against these goals embedded in the upcoming Homelessness Strategy.”
“As the strategy is finalised, we’d encourage Mr Reed and his team to ensure it includes both an emergency response to the record levels of homelessness we are facing right now, and an ambitious, resourced vision to transform our country’s current approach to homelessness.”
“Only by doing both in tandem, with support to ensure VCSE partners can continue to deliver high-quality homelessness support and prevention services, can we break the cycle of rising homelessness.
“The Secretary of State is right to admit we are facing a crisis. Homeless Link and our 750+ members also share commitment to solve that crisis, and we look forward to seeing a homelessness strategy that empowers us to work together to do just that.”
