Homelessness

Last updated February 2026

Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about homelessness. I am passionate about this issue; when I was growing up, my family were Nightstop volunteers, so we would often have young people in crisis staying over at our house in Brotton as part of the national Nightstop network of same-night emergency accommodation which bridges the gap. I found at an early age that those affected by youth homelessness were just like me, but for the grace of God. A bad situation or two, often entirely outside their control, had made the difference between having a safe, secure roof over their head and not.

Homelessness remains far too high across the country. Too many families are still living in temporary accommodation, and too many young people in particular face the risk of losing their home altogether. The reality is that responding to crisis alone is not enough. The priority must be preventing homelessness before it happens.

That is why I am proud that this Labour Government has launched a landmark new cross-government National Plan to End Homelessness, focused on prevention and long-term solutions. Alongside this, £3.5 billion is being invested through to 2029 to ensure action is taken towards ending homelessness and rough sleeping. Part of this investment is the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant, which is providing more than £185 million to councils across England this year. The grant gives local authorities the flexibility to fund the services their communities need most, including accommodation and support for people sleeping rough. In Middlesbrough, this work is already making a difference. A £590,000 government grant last year is helping Middlesbrough’s Labour Council and local partners strengthen prevention services and provide safe accommodation for those who need it. The funding will support new staff at Depaul UK to extend opening hours at the Positive Pathway drop-in centre, a safe and welcoming place offering practical support to help people move off the streets and into stable housing. A further role within the council will focus specifically on preventing homelessness before it occurs.

Alongside this, action is being taken by the Labour Government to address the deeper causes of homelessness. Plans are underway to deliver the biggest increase in social and affordable housebuilding in a generation, while the Renters’ Rights Act will abolish Section 21 “no fault” evictions in May this year. We are also expanding access to naloxone through homeless services and outreach teams, backed by £3.4 billion for drug and alcohol treatment services, recognising the close link between addiction and homelessness. We are also taking forward a raft of measures to make work pay and strengthen workers’ rights, recognising that work and financial security are also an important part of preventing homelessness. By supporting people into a good, well-paid job and reducing poverty, we can also support them into independence, routine and a sense of purpose.

There are no simple answers to a challenge as complex as this. But across government, councils and charities there is a shared determination to move away from crisis response and towards prevention, stability and long-term support. That work matters enormously in communities like ours, because everyone deserves the security and dignity of a safe place to call home.