Housing Secretary pledges immediate decrease in homelessness rates, expressing concern over rising numbers of children in temporary housing. Emphasizing the urgency to address the issue, he urges housing industry leaders to take bold actions and increase construction efforts. Recent data showed a record high of 172,420 homeless children in temporary accommodation in England.
In a meeting with major social housing firms, the Housing Secretary discussed utilizing the £39 billion government investment to build 300,000 new social and affordable homes over the next decade. Plans include reducing affordable housing requirements in London to boost home construction.
Efforts are underway to tackle rough sleeping, with an additional £84 million set aside to support rough sleepers during the upcoming winter. Despite concerns raised about meeting the target of building 1.5 million homes by 2029, the government remains committed to addressing housing challenges and ensuring progress in reducing homelessness.