Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to help support local authorities to provide appropriate temporary accommodation to (a) survivors of domestic abuse, (b) people with complex needs and (c) other vulnerable groups.

If homelessness cannot be prevented or relieved the local authority may owe the applicant the main duty to accommodate people who are homeless through no fault of their own, are eligible for assistance, and have a ‘priority need’. This primarily includes those with children or a vulnerability, including disability or mental ill-health. The Homelessness Code of Guidance, to which local authorities must pay regard, contains advice for assessing vulnerability.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 gives those who are homeless as a result of being a victim of domestic abuse priority need for accommodation secured by the local authority.

Temporary accommodation is an important way of ensuring no family is without a roof over their head. Local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable and should keep the suitability of accommodation under review. Between 2022 and 2025 we are investing over £1 billion into the Homelessness Prevention Grant, which funds local authorities to work with landlords to prevent evictions and offer financial support for people to find a new home and move out of temporary accommodation.