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

To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the cost-of-living crisis on homelessness rates across England.

We understand that many people are worried about the impact of rising prices. That is why we are providing over £37 billion of support this year, targeted at those who need it most. This includes the extension to the Household Support Fund, running to March 2023, to help with the cost of essentials such as food, clothing, and utilities.

Officials are working closely with local authorities, charities and other government departments to monitor levels of homelessness and rough sleeping, and provide vital support at a time of uncertainty. We regularly monitor social housing waiting list numbers. The government has given local authorities the freedom to manage their own waiting lists in accordance with local needs and priorities.

The annual rough sleeping snapshot, published here, provides an estimate of known rough sleepers by gender.