Morning, Tuesday, 17th November 2026
Online
This conference will examine government plans for tackling homelessness in England, including the new Prime Minister’s commitment to end rough sleeping at the earliest opportunity with the Government committing an additional £340m in funding.
It will bring together key stakeholders and policymakers to discuss the development and implementation of the Government’s National Plan to End Homelessness and the new PM’s commitment. The agenda will look at next steps for prevention, identifying those most in need and early intervention, funding and accountability, local delivery and service co-ordination, housing supply and standards, the acquisition of suitable homes, temporary accommodation, and support for vulnerable groups.
Delegates will examine progress towards national targets and priorities going forward. The implications of emerging accountability arrangements will be an area for discussion, including what will be needed to strengthen prevention, support people to move on from rough sleeping, and reduce the risk of repeat homelessness. The conference will also consider practicalities for implementing the Plan across local services, including co-ordination between housing, health, social care, employment, substance misuse, justice and voluntary sector support.
It comes with a joint report from Crisis and IPPR published in July 2026 suggesting that the rate of homelessness could rise by 25% by 2030 without further action, and with the new PM expected to set out policies for development of new council housing in England.
National Plan aims, practicalities & implementation
The agenda examines next steps for implementation and the support that may be needed for local authorities, housing associations and voluntary sector organisations to achieve outcomes that can be sustained in the long term.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- national targets: progress against the Government’s ambitions - emerging accountability arrangements - measuring outcomes
- prevention: next steps for early identification of people at risk - support before crisis point - reducing routes into homelessness and rough sleeping
- rough sleeping: supporting people to move on - reducing repeat homelessness - learning from Housing First and integrated support models
- local services: co-ordination across housing, health, social care, employment, substance misuse, justice and voluntary sector support
- delivery capacity: approaches to addressing funding, commissioning and workforce pressures - support for local authorities, housing associations and voluntary organisations
- housing stability: support to help people remain in their homes - help for those at risk of homelessness - reducing reliance on temporary accommodation
- future policy: mayoral and city-region leadership - devolution in housing and homelessness delivery - considerations for the future direction of supply and standards policy
Funding, capacity & accountability frameworks
Delegates will discuss the funding, capacity and commissioning approaches needed for delivery, alongside wider arrangements needed to support policy ambitions. This includes long-term investment in early intervention, support services and sustainable routes away from homelessness. Discussion is expected on funding, flexibility for local authorities, and accountability across services.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- funding models: the new Homelessness, Rough Sleeping and Domestic Abuse Grant - local authority flexibility - support for planning and delivery
- long-term investment: early intervention - support services - sustainable routes away from homelessness
- Duty to Collaborate: practical implications for housing, health, social care, employment, substance misuse and justice services
- shared accountability: preventing homelessness among groups at heightened risk - support for people facing multiple and complex disadvantages
- local frameworks: homelessness action plans - outcome measurement - use of data and lived-experience engagement
- national and local roles: balance between national frameworks and local discretion - assessing progress against national targets
Devolution & local authority delivery
Attendees will consider implications of how co-ordination between local and strategic authorities is evolving, following the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and in the context of potential further reform. Discussion is also expected on local flexibility, accountability and approaches to place-based delivery.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- devolution: co-ordination between local and strategic authorities - potential further reform - implications for homelessness services
- funding settlements: commencement in some established mayoralties - local flexibility - accountability and delivery
- housing first: future role within local strategies - emerging evidence of impact - wider adoption
- local commissioning: funding, service design and commissioning models - support for evidence-based interventions
- rough sleeping: lessons from the repeal of the Vagrancy Act 1824 - support-led responses - implications for local practice
- service design: early support - multiple disadvantage - long-term housing stability
- good practice: sharing learning across local areas - adapting effective interventions for different communities
Voluntary & community sector delivery
Priorities for supporting community and voluntary sector engagement will be discussed, including local priorities and procurement models and access to funding through programmes such as the Ending Homelessness in Communities Fund and the Long-Term Rough Sleeping Innovation Programme.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- voluntary sector: role in local delivery - procurement models - access to funding
- innovation programmes: responses to rough sleeping pressures - embedding learning from delivery - scope for wider application
- trauma-informed support: community-led approaches - outreach models - support for people with complex needs
- commissioning: practicalities for outreach and local services - partnership working - service capacity
- data and metrics: earlier identification - measuring impact - informing prevention and intervention
Affordable housing delivery, standards & tackling insecurity
Discussion will focus on delivery of the 10 year £39bn Social and Affordable Homes Programme, including funding allocations, regional distribution, delivery models and potential impact on housing supply. Sessions will examine priorities for supporting councils, housing associations and other providers to accelerate delivery.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- affordable homes: delivery of the 10 year £39bn programme - funding allocations - regional distribution
- housing need: what will be needed from investment and delivery mechanisms, and their application, to effectively address needs - priorities for councils, housing associations and providers
- delivery models: approaches to accelerating supply - local capacity - implications for homelessness and temporary accommodation
- renter reform: abolition of Section 21 - wider Renters’ Rights Act 2025 measures - implications for housing insecurity
- housing standards: implementation of Awaab’s Law - Decent Homes Standard in the private rented sector - enforcement
- local responsibilities: regulatory oversight - landlord and local authority duties - implications for housing quality and tenant security
- homelessness prevention: links between supply, standards and security - reducing risk for people in unstable accommodation
Supporting vulnerable groups
Further discussion is expected on alignment between the National Plan to End Homelessness and government ambitions to tackle violence against women and girls and reduce child poverty. Particular focus is expected on temporary accommodation, support for families and children, and risks affecting older people and marginalised communities.
Overall, areas for discussion include:
- cross-government aims: alignment with work on violence against women and girls - child poverty - homelessness prevention
- temporary accommodation: rising use - reducing lengthy placements - improving standards and outcomes for children
- families: ending the routine use of B&B accommodation - support for children - links with wider family policy
- older people: meeting housing and support needs - service access - implications for local delivery
- marginalised groups: lessons from the Women and Equalities Committee inquiry on Black homelessness - early findings - policy implications
- asylum decisions: moving-on from Home Office accommodation - risks for newly recognised refugees - service capacity
- local co-ordination: Home Office, local authority and voluntary sector roles - preventing homelessness during transition from asylum support
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.
