Homelessness: Young People

(asked on 13th April 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate his Department has made of the number of local authorities that will act as a guarantor for young people who have experienced homelessness; and what recent assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of such schemes.


Answered by
Eddie Hughes Portrait
Eddie Hughes
This question was answered on 20th April 2021

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 places duties on local housing authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent and relieve a person’s homelessness. Local authorities must now work with people who are homeless or at risk of losing their homes to develop personalised housing plans, tailored to focus on the needs and circumstances of the household. The support offered may involve financial support.

We are providing a £310 million Homelessness Prevention Grant to local authorities in 2021/22 to help them plan and respond to their local homelessness pressures. Amongst other things, local authorities may use this to support people into the private rented sector, for example through guarantor schemes or by providing deposits. Local authorities may use homelessness funding flexibility in line with local need.

In addition, this year there is £140 million available in Discretionary Housing Payments which can be used for those who may need additional support with housing costs.

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