Councils Implement Strategies, Funding to Combat Homelessness Nationwide

Multiple councils across the UK are implementing new strategies and initiatives to address the growing homelessness crisis exacerbated by the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis. West Oxfordshire District Council has approved a Preventing Homelessness Strategy 2025-2028 focusing on early interventions and expanding accommodation options, while Westmorland and Furness Council reported a significant increase in households needing prevention or relief duty, highlighting a rise in demand for affordable housing. In Southwark, proposed changes to social housing allocation will prioritize care leavers and domestic abuse survivors, responding to high demand for council homes. Worcester faces a severe shortage of permanent supportive housing, with experts calling for at least 300 additional units to meet current needs. In Salford, a new £5 million plan will create affordable homes to help those at risk of homelessness, addressing a backlog of over 6,000 households presenting as homeless. These initiatives reflect a nationwide effort to tackle the homelessness crisis and improve support for vulnerable populations.