The Homes and Community Scrutiny Committee in Islington addressed the town hall last night to discuss their strategy plan to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.
The council say that their aim for their strategy is to ensure that by 2030 “everyone in Islington has a safe, decent and genuinely affordable place to call home”.
The plan blames high levels of homelessness and rough sleeping on affordable housing being in short supply along with higher demand.
The plan is being put in place after data presented at the previous town hall meeting that took place on 26 September which saw data reveal the number of rough sleepers in Islington has doubled in the past year.
Islington Town Hall (2024)
The data presented at the meeting was gathered by Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) and commissioned by Greater London Authority and presented by Ian Swift, head of NRPF’s refugee & migrant services.
He addressed the council on 26 September: “Islington Council, like every other council, are facing a homelessness crisis. We’ve got more people in temporary accommodation as a country, as well as Islington, than we’ve ever had. We’ve had more homeless applications than we’ve ever had.”
He continued: “That needs to change for the wellbeing of the individuals, never mind our own finances.”
The data found that in the 23/24 year, Islington is the joint-seventh-highest borough (out of 33) in the capital in terms of rough sleepers. The new quarterly 24/25 data saw that 94 new rough sleepers were found in the area, jumping from 40 last year. It is the highest number of rough sleepers in the borough since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Islington councillor Una O’Halloran, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, told us: “Like all councils we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness, while years of underinvestment and damaging housing policy from central government mean our resources are stretched to the limit.”
The plan’s main priority marked out is to make early interventions into the problem by using “person centred, trauma-informed, holistic” methods.
A new study from charity Depaul UK was released ahead of World Homeless Day (10 October) last week. It followed young rough sleepers in several London boroughs. This research found official statistics might not be painting the full picture. It found 28% of young rough sleepers they surveyed in London had not been recorded in official data.
The rise of homelessness and rough sleeping in Islington could be down to overstretched funding in London councils. Depaul UK estimated that London boroughs will overspend by over £600m this upcoming year.
Currently, the boroughs of Croydon and Havering are reliant on the Exceptional Financial Support scheme from the Government for the 24/25 financial year, with London Council expecting more to follow.
In the 23/24 period, as a collective, London boroughs overspent on their homelessness budgets by £208 million.
Ms O’Halloran said about the situation: “We need action from the new government to tackle the homelessness crisis, including a long-term commitment to increasing Local Housing Allowance rates and Homelessness Prevention Grants. We also need more control over how we use the money generated from Right to Buy sales so we can increase the number of council homes more quickly.
Islington Councillors gather around the Council Chamber for The Homes and Community Scrutiny Committee
Last month, we joined more than 100 other councils in publishing five solutions to secure the future of council housing. This includes a call for fair, sustainable funding so we can properly maintain and improve existing council homes. We’re committed to working with government to achieve these essential changes.”
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HeadlineIslington Council announce strategy to tackle rising homelessness in borough
Short HeadlineIslington Council to introduce plan on rough sleeping
StandfirstLatest data shows the amount of rough sleepers in the borough has doubled, with the plan is set to cover the 2024-2029 period.
The Homes and Community Scrutiny Committee in Islington addressed the town hall last night to discuss their strategy plan to help tackle homelessness and rough sleeping in the borough.
The council say that their aim for their strategy is to ensure that by 2030 “everyone in Islington has a safe, decent and genuinely affordable place to call home”.
The plan blames high levels of homelessness and rough sleeping on affordable housing being in short supply along with higher demand.
The plan is being put in place after data presented at the previous town hall meeting that took place on 26 September which saw data reveal the number of rough sleepers in Islington has doubled in the past year.
Islington Town Hall (2024)
The data presented at the meeting was gathered by Combined Homelessness and Information Network (CHAIN) and commissioned by Greater London Authority and presented by Ian Swift, head of NRPF’s refugee & migrant services.
He addressed the council on 26 September: “Islington Council, like every other council, are facing a homelessness crisis. We’ve got more people in temporary accommodation as a country, as well as Islington, than we’ve ever had. We’ve had more homeless applications than we’ve ever had.”
He continued: “That needs to change for the wellbeing of the individuals, never mind our own finances.”
The data found that in the 23/24 year, Islington is the joint-seventh-highest borough (out of 33) in the capital in terms of rough sleepers. The new quarterly 24/25 data saw that 94 new rough sleepers were found in the area, jumping from 40 last year. It is the highest number of rough sleepers in the borough since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Islington councillor Una O’Halloran, Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, told us: “Like all councils we’ve seen a significant increase in the number of people experiencing homelessness, while years of underinvestment and damaging housing policy from central government mean our resources are stretched to the limit.”
The plan’s main priority marked out is to make early interventions into the problem by using “person centred, trauma-informed, holistic” methods.
A new study from charity Depaul UK was released ahead of World Homeless Day (10 October) last week. It followed young rough sleepers in several London boroughs. This research found official statistics might not be painting the full picture. It found 28% of young rough sleepers they surveyed in London had not been recorded in official data.
The rise of homelessness and rough sleeping in Islington could be down to overstretched funding in London councils. Depaul UK estimated that London boroughs will overspend by over £600m this upcoming year.
Currently, the boroughs of Croydon and Havering are reliant on the Exceptional Financial Support scheme from the Government for the 24/25 financial year, with London Council expecting more to follow.
In the 23/24 period, as a collective, London boroughs overspent on their homelessness budgets by £208 million.
Ms O’Halloran said about the situation: “We need action from the new government to tackle the homelessness crisis, including a long-term commitment to increasing Local Housing Allowance rates and Homelessness Prevention Grants. We also need more control over how we use the money generated from Right to Buy sales so we can increase the number of council homes more quickly.
Islington Councillors gather around the Council Chamber for The Homes and Community Scrutiny Committee
Last month, we joined more than 100 other councils in publishing five solutions to secure the future of council housing. This includes a call for fair, sustainable funding so we can properly maintain and improve existing council homes. We’re committed to working with government to achieve these essential changes.”
