Agenda item

This report sets out the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Action Plan 2026 – 2031 for approval and adoption.

Prior to considering the report, Cabinet NOTED the following representations from Councillor Georgiou who had requested to speak on the item.

Whilst recognising the positive commitments contained within the Action Plan and thanking frontline officers and voluntary organisations for their ongoing work supporting residents experiencing homelessness, Councillor Georgiou began by highlighting what he felt was a need to ensure the Council's approach remained focused on the prevention of homelessness rather than purely managing the consequences of an escalating housing crisis.

Expressing concern at the numbers of households with children living in temporary accommodation and recorded level of rough sleeping, emphasis was placed on the impact these circumstances had on families with children whose education was disrupted, and people whose health, security and dignity were also being put at risk.  Whilst therefore welcoming the commitment to improve temporary accommodation standards and ensure no child was required to share kitchen or bathroom facilities with another household, it was noted that improvements in accommodation quality alone would not reduce the overall number of people experiencing homelessness or families living in temporary accommodation. As such, Cabinet was urged to place greater emphasis on prevention and early intervention measures aimed at stopping residents from falling into homelessness including calls for a more proactive and coordinated approach across Council services and partner agencies, including housing, benefits, education, health and voluntary sector organisations with the importance of creating clear pathways to support residents facing rent arrears, eviction, financial hardship or changing personal circumstances also highlighted.

Reference was also made to successful approaches adopted across other London boroughs in seeking to recognise best practice and tackle the challenges identified.  Measures outlined included the expansion of mediation between landlords and tenants, access to debt and benefits advice and the potential establishment of a homelessness prevention fund to support residents facing short-term financial pressures, with it noted that preventative interventions could deliver not only positive resident outcomes but also longer-term financial savings for the Council in terms of cost avoidance relating to emergency accommodation and also prolonged housing insecurity.

In addition, the need was identified to ensure sustained support was available following the prevention or resolution of homelessness, particularly for refugees, care leavers, single people, residents experiencing mental ill health and those with multiple disadvantages with Members advised that long-term housing outcomes depended not only on securing accommodation but also ensuring residents were able to successfully sustain their tenancies.

As a further issue, Councillor Georgiou highlighted what he felt was a need to provide more regular and publicly accessible reporting on homelessness prevention outcomes, including the number of households assisted before becoming homeless, evictions prevented, lengths of stay in temporary accommodation and progress in reducing overall homelessness-related expenditure with the importance of transparency regarding performance monitoring also identified as key.

As a final issue, reference was made to the ongoing need to address the shortage of genuinely affordable housing within the borough with a call to accelerate council housebuilding, improve the use of empty properties, increase suitable move-on accommodation and work collaboratively with housing associations and responsible private landlords to increase the supply of affordable homes for local residents. It was noted that, without addressing underlying housing supply pressures, the Council would continue to face increasing costs associated with managing homelessness rather than resolving its root causes.

In concluding, Councillor Georgiou advised that whilst recognising the positive commitments and overall aims within the Action Plan, he was keen to ensure the approach adopted focussed on key outcomes in seeking to prevent and reduce homelessness, improve support for those experiencing housing insecurity and increase access to secure, affordable housing for Brent residents.

Having thanked Councillor Georgiou for his comments, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) acknowledged the challenge provided in seeking to ensure the Council’s approach remained as focussed and wide as possible with Councillor Johnson (as Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters) also highlighting the alignment of the Action Plan with many of the issues raised.  These included not only a focus on joined up working but also early intervention and prevention alongside the support needed to sustain tenancies and improve the affordability, standard and quality of available accommodation.

In recognising the challenges identified, representations received and focus identified in relation to early intervention, prevention and increasing the supply of affordable accommodation Cabinet RESOLVED to approve and sign off the Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Action Plan for publication before 1 December 2026, as detailed within Appendix 1 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 19 October 2026