Vulnerable people are facing homelessness because some councils are ‘still not getting it right’, according to the local government ombudsman.
Michael King said that for the past five years councils in England with housing responsibilities have had increased duties to help prevent people from becoming homeless, but they are often failing to do so.
A report by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman gives several examples including the case of a man who had to sleep in his van for two years when he fled his home because of violence after his local council failed to accept his homelessness application.
Responding to the report, the Local Government Association (LGA) said homelessness pressures, depleting social housing stock and an unaffordable private rented sector were a ‘perfect storm’ for already stretched council services.
The Ombudsman’s report says the Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced to give councils greater responsibilities to help people at risk of homelessness earlier in the process to prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.
Mr King said: ‘Five years since the new act came into force we would have expected the right systems and processes to have been embedded, and for officers to be well aware of their duties.
‘But unfortunately this is not always the case and too often we are finding councils at fault.
‘Although we see many examples where councils have got things right, too often our investigations still find that councils have failed in the basics.’
LGA housing spokesperson Darren Rodwell said: ‘Councils work incredibly hard to prevent the tragedy of homelessness from happening, as well as supporting those who find themselves affected.
‘Homelessness pressures, combined with depleting social housing stock and an unaffordable private rented sector feels like a perfect storm for already stretched council services.’
