Labour Government Provides Huge 34% boost to tackle homelessness in Enfield

Across the country, Labour is investing a record nearly £1 billion for councils to help break the endless cycle of spiraling homelessness. Ministers are bringing the total funding for the Homelessness Prevention Grant up to £633m - the largest investment in this grant since it began. At the same time Labour is investing £280m directly into rough sleeping and single homelessness services, so we can condemn the scandal of rough sleeping to history. The Government is also ending no fault evictions – alongside plans to build 1.5m new homes.

The Government announced the plans after inheriting a record 123,000 households living in temporary accommodation – including nearly 160,000 children – after 14 years of Conservative rule.

Welcoming the huge boost for Enfield, Labour’s Enfield Council Leader Cllr Ergin Erbil said,

“People voted for a Labour Government because this country needs to change – and that’s what this government is delivering. The level of homelessness in this country is a disgrace, and its high time we had a government determined to stamp it out. 

“Announcements like today’s are a clear sign that the work of change has well and truly begun.”

Enfield’s Cabinet Member for Housing, Cllr Ayten Guzel said:

“This funding will support and strengthen our plan to reduce homelessness in our borough and build the affordable homes local people need. 

The extra resources allocated to Enfield by the government will help us support families at risk of homelessness, and prevent rough sleeping too. 

Coupled with the banning of no fault evictions and our programme to build 1.5m new homes, together with the Labour government we have a real plan to deliver change right here in Enfield.”

Bambos Charalambous, Member of Parliament for Southgate and Wood Green said: 

““I am absolutely delighted to hear that Enfield is receiving an uplift in funding for homelessness and rough sleeping prevention and recovery. 

The money will offer essential support for the reduction of homelessness in the borough and the tackling of this critical issue. It shows that the Labour Government is committed to listening and responding to the needs of our local authorities and ending this crisis.“

Feryal Clark, Member of Parliament for Enfield North said:

“I welcome this additional £17 million of funding to support those made homeless or sleeping rough in Enfield.

This support is a lifeline, and will help Enfield Council to reduce, shorten, and halt returns to homelessness and rough sleeping, by tackling the problem at its roots.

I am thrilled that this Labour Government has acted by providing the money required, and the cross-government approach needed, to tackle this issue head on. This is something the Tories never did in their 14 years of power.”

Kate Osamor, Member of Parliament for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill said:

"The homelessness crisis is one of the most pressing issues our local area faces.

Every day I am contacted by constituents desperate for help, unsure how they are going to find an affordable place to live and worried about the future.

I welcome this extra funding from central government to Enfield Council to support those in need who are homeless or are sleeping rough which will make a difference to so many."

Deputy Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Housing, Angela Rayner said:

“Too many people have been failed by the system time and again.160,000 children face spending this Christmas without a stable place to call home. I am determined to break the cycle of spiraling homelessness and get back on track to ending it for good.

“This largest-ever investment marks a turning point, giving councils the tools they need to act quickly and put in place support for people to tackle, reduce and prevent homelessness. It’s time to turn the tide.

“This historic funding comes alongside our work developing a cross-government strategy back on track to end homelessness, pulling every lever of the state, to ensure that we deliver not just sticking plasters but a long-term plan.

“Through our Plan for Change I am determined to tackle the housing crisis we inherited head on, building the homes we need, delivering the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation and ending no fault evictions.”

Funding to tackle homelessness in Enfield will rise 34% under today’s announcement.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/largest-ever-cash-boost-to-turn-the-tide-on-homelessness

This funding is just one branch of the government’s wider drive to fix the housing crisis. 

Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions will be abolished through the Renters’ Rights Bill, immediately putting an end to one of the leading causes of homelessness. 

The Deputy Prime Minister is chairing the cross-government group on tackling homelessness.  

Alongside this, the government will deliver the biggest boost in social and affordable housing in a generation, with £500m in new funding for the Affordable  Homes Programme delivering up to 5,000 new social homes. 

Councils will also be able to keep 100% of receipts from all Right to Buy sales, enabling them to re-invest in more social housing available for families.