Westminster Social Policy Forum

For booking-related queries or information on speaking please email us at info@forumsupport.co.uk, or contact us: +44 (0)1344 864796.

Next steps for tackling housing insecurity, homelessness and rough sleeping in England

strategic priorities & government policy | Renters’ Rights Bill & future legislation | trends & funding pressures | improving support & regional case studies | role of councils & key sectors | housebuilding & social housing targets

Morning, Tuesday, 14th January 2025

Online


This conference is bringing policymakers and stakeholders together to examine priorities for tackling homelessness and rough sleeping in England.


Taking place as the Government prepares to create a new cross-government taskforce with the aim of developing a long-term strategy to end homelessness, delegates will examine approaches for addressing trends and key issues in light of recent national statistics show record numbers of people who are homeless, sleeping rough or living in temporary accommodation.


With the 2023 OECD Affordable Housing Database suggesting the UK has the highest rate of homelessness in member countries, the agenda will draw on examples of best practice in tackling homelessness, including regional case studies, and initiatives for aiding recovery from homelessness and delivering long-term support for health, education and employment, as well as priorities for vulnerable groups experiencing homelessness.


We expect discussion on the role of the third sector and local authorities in the context of fiscal pressures and high demand, with a focus on strategies for improving collaboration between local and national government and fostering multi-agency coordination across key sectors, including health, legal and law enforcement, in order to deliver more effective responses to homelessness.


Delegates will discuss the new Government’s approach and spending commitments, including how the more than £200m in additional funding announced in the 2024 Autumn Budget can best be utilised, as well as looking ahead to long-term commitments in the spring spending review. They will look at implications for delivery of support services, alongside key issues for implementing strategies to tackle homelessness, including coordinating partnerships and local support, and tackling housing insecurity, as well as the practicality of delivering on Government housebuilding targets.


Sessions will consider priorities for tackling private rented sector insecurity and proposed measures in the Renters’ Rights Bill recently introduced to Parliament, including the end of Section 21 ‘no-fault’ evictions, and further proposed legislation aimed at improving affordability and security in private sector housing. Further discussion is expected on support and enforcing recent measures, such as Awaab’s Law in tackling dangerous hazards in the social rental sector, determining regionally appropriate measures and funding models.


Further sessions will consider how government can better support local authorities with more consistent funding and support to enable a greater focus on homelessness prevention, with the NAO reporting in July that local authority spending on homelessness services has more than doubled since 2010-11, with some councils spending as much as half their budgets on tackling homelessness. The report also highlighted a £200m gap in the funding local authorities received to cover the costs of providing temporary accommodation.


We are pleased to be able to include keynote sessions with: Vicky Davis, Director, Local Government Value for Money, NAO; and Rick Henderson, CEO, Homeless Link. Further senior contributors are being approached.


All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include parliamentary pass-holders from both Houses of Parliament and officials from MHCLG; GLD; Home Office; and the Welsh Government.



Keynote Speakers

Vicky Davis

Director, Local Government Value For Money, National Audit Office

Rick Henderson

CEO, Homeless Link

Keynote Speakers

Vicky Davis

Director, Local Government Value For Money, National Audit Office

Rick Henderson

CEO, Homeless Link

Chair

Bob Blackman MP

Co-Chair, APPG for Ending Homelessness

Speakers

Joe Donohue

Strategic Lead, Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Migration, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Liz Davies KC

Barrister, Garden Court Chambers

Sam Pratt

Policy and Communications Lead, Shared Health Foundation

Ben Tomlin

Head, Strategic Housing and Partnerships, Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council

Dr Hannah Fairbrother

Senior Lecturer, Public Health, University of Sheffield

Councillor Liza Begum

Cabinet Member, Housing Services, Westminster City Council

Helen Watson

Chief Executive, RentStart

Dr Emma Haddad

Chief Executive, St Mungo’s

Professor Nick Maguire

Director, Centre for Homelessness Research and Practice

Councillor Allan Casey

City Convener, Workforce and Homelessness and Addiction Services, Glasgow City Council