In the first sixteen months of this Labour Government, we have seen a sharp increase in homelessness and rough sleeping. This is particularly acute in London and the south-east, which is largely the fault of the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, who has failed to build the necessary housing our capital needs.
The demands on London’s boroughs to provide temporary accommodation has risen exponentially. At the same time, housebuilding in the capital has collapsed due to the burdens being placed on developers by our disastrous Mayor.
This afternoon, I pressed the Government on this issue. I asked the Minister responsible whether the Government will help alleviate the plight of councils who are under immense strain by removing the restrictions placed on the use of the homelessness reduction grant.
I was disappointed that the Minister continues to delay the publication of their homelessness strategy. Simultaneously, the Government will reduce the funding given to many of our councils at the forefront of this crisis.
