Based on our regular surveys of homelessness in the capital, London Councils estimates that more than 175,000 Londoners (around one in 50 of all Londoners) are currently homeless and living in temporary accommodation, including at least one child in every London classroom. Homelessness is not inevitable. London Councils’ policy priorities for addressing homelessness include:

Boost Homelessness Prevention Grant Funding. Local authorities play a vital role in supporting struggling households to avoid homelessness. Councils require an emergency funding increase to ensure local services have the resources needed in the face of rising levels of demand for support.

Enable councils to buy more accommodation sold by private landlords. Providing increased capital investment for housing acquisitions could help councils address the shortage of temporary accommodation, particularly through acquiring homes being sold by private landlords as they exit the market.

Bring forward a cross-departmental strategy to reduce homelessness. Tackling homelessness must become a major priority at a national level with government departments working together – in addition to key partners such as local authorities – as effectively as possible. Boroughs welcome the government’s commitment to working in this way and are keen to play an active part.

London Councils is pleased to announce the speakers who will be joining London Councils' Vice Chair Cllr Gareth Roberts on the panel at our upcoming event at the Liberal Democrat party conference on 16 September, exploring the topic: YIMBYs or NIMBYs: Where do the Liberal Democrats stand on growth in London? Panellists will include:

Cllr Gareth Roberts, Vice Chair of London Councils and Leader LB Richmond upon Thames (Chair)

Cllr Luke Taylor, MP for Sutton and Cheam

Hina Bokhari AM, London Assembly Member

Muniya Barua, Deputy Chief Executive, BusinessLDN

Antonia Jenning, Chief Executive, Centre for London

Look out in Key Issues for more details on this event and our events at the Labour and Conservtaive party conferences nearer the date for each event.

London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe has issued a statement giving details of the operation to tackle a fire that broke out at a block of flats Freshwater Road in Dagenham. You can read his update in full here.

In May this year, London Councils launched a new website.

We are preparing to decommission our old website and are keen to hear your feedback on what works well, what doesn’t work well and suggestions for improvements. Please take a moment to let us know via our website feedback survey.