Councillor Natasha Summers, Cabinet Lead for Housing Need and Climate Change, writes about homelessness and Havering's ongoing plans and projects to tackle the housing crisis.
"Like many councils across the country, Havering continues to face a housing crisis.
"The rising cost of private rents, combined with a shortage of affordable homes, means more families and individuals are struggling to find somewhere safe and secure to live.
"This has resulted in greater demand on Havering’s limited social housing stocks with more and more residents becoming homeless with no other options available to them.
"Homelessness isn’t just about sleeping rough. It can be anyone who does not have a stable or suitable place to live.
"This can include families and individuals living in overcrowded or unsafe conditions, those staying temporarily with friends or relatives, those in hostels or emergency shelters and those at immediate risk of losing their home due to eviction or financial hardship.
"Homelessness is complex, and it affects people from all walks of life and that’s why our approach remains compassionate, practical, and forward-thinking.
"Temporary accommodation is a short-term solution provided by the Council to people who are homeless or at immediate risk of homelessness.
"Due to the shortage of Council social housing, temporary accommodation offers a safe place to stay while we work on finding them a more permanent home.
"Given the Council’s financial challenges, we continue to prioritise existing and new ways to provide social housing and alleviate some of the temporary use of costly private accommodation such as hotels and flats let on a nightly basis.
"We know that relying on expensive nightly accommodation like hotels is not sustainable. That’s why we’re investing in cost-effective, high-quality temporary housing and exploring other innovative solutions to meet demand.
"New approaches such as the leasing of converted office buildings and the development of modular homes at the Waterloo Estate provides good quality temporary homes for the families and individuals who need them most.
"These options are designed to be safe, comfortable, and supportive—giving people the stability they need during a difficult time.
"We’ve also launched a new Housing Allocations Scheme, which came into effect last month.
"This updated policy introduces a points-based system to ensure that social housing is allocated fairly and transparently.
"The scheme has been developed to better support the letting of Havering’s limited housing owned by the Council.
"I am confident it will ensure available homes go to those who need them most, with existing qualifying applicants on the register being protected.
"Importantly, it also strengthens our commitment to local residents by recognising applicants who have lived in Havering for four out of the last six years.
"The Council is committed to supporting residents throughout this change, with information and comprehensive guidance being shared to over 3,000 residents who are already on the register.
"Solving the UK housing crisis won’t happen overnight, but here in Havering we are committed to delivering more social rented homes, making better use of long-term empty buildings, ensuring our planning system supports affordable housing, protecting tenants from unfair eviction and helping people to sustain their tenancies and rebuild their lives.
"Everyone deserves a decent, secure home. Through collaboration, innovation, and a strong local focus, Havering is working hard to make this possible in the face of unprecedented challenges.”