The government announced on Friday that it would be extending its ban on evictions - due to end on Sunday 23 August - by another four weeks until 20 September 2020.

Last week, London Councils Executive Member for Housing Cllr Darren Rodwell had warned that the imminent end of the government’s eviction ban would lead to an "avalanche of evictions and add to the acute pressures on the capital’s homelessness services."

In a late change of course, the MHCLG said on Friday that it would extend the deadline and that the government intends to give tenants greater protection from eviction over the winter by requiring landlords to provide tenants with 6 months’ notice, other than in serious cases such as anti-social behaviour and domestic abuse perpetrators, until at least the end of March.  

Writing in PSE this week, London Councils Chair Cllr Peter John says that the UK’s experience of Covid-19 has starkly highlighted the crucial role of local government in the national response, and that putting councils at the heart of recovery will be essential to ensure we can build back better.

"Now is the time for change", he says. "Ministers should acknowledge local government’s true value and give councils the powers and resources we need to make a full contribution to the national recovery everyone wants to see."

You can read the article in full here [pdf]

Voluntary sector organisations looking to develop effective ways of addressing inequalities in sexual health, reproductive health and HIV are being invited to apply for funding via the Reproductive Health, Sexual Health and HIV Innovation Fund 2020/21.

Proposals will be accepted from organisations to deliver projects of up to 12 months in duration at a cost of between £25,000 and £75,000.

While the fund is open to projects across sexual health, reproductive health and HIV, this year they are particularly looking to encourage applications for projects that focus on Black and Minority Ethnic communities.

A webinar to provide guidance on how to apply for the fund will be held on Wednesday 2 September at 11:00. Voluntary sector organisations can also register their interest by email.