The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for London and the APPG for Ending Homelessness hosted a joint event in Parliament on Monday (5 December) to discuss the strategies in place to support homeless Londoners and policy priorities for reducing homelessness in the capital.

London faces the most severe homelessness crisis in the country. While rough sleeping is the most visible form of homelessness, a further 150,000 homeless Londoners – including 75,000 children – live in temporary accommodation arranged by their local borough.

Progress has been made on reducing rough sleeping in the capital over the last few years. However, there are fears that, with rising rents, demand for homes continuing to outstrip supply, and additional cost-of-living pressures, many more Londoners are at a real risk of homelessness in the coming months.

The event was jointly chaired by Florence Eshalomi MP and Bob Blackman MP and speakers included Jamie Carswell, Co-Chair of the London Housing Directors' Group, Jasmine Basran, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Crisis and Jacob Quagliozzi, Director of England, Housing Justice.

The annual international campaign 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence runs from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women (25 November) until Human Rights Day (10 December).

London boroughs are running a number of events highlighting work to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls throughout the 16 Days. You can find out more about events across the capital here.

Boroughs have until 9 January 2023 to submit proposals for the London Office of Technology and Innovation (LOTI) innovation fund to design and test new approaches to improving adult social care.

The fund, which will provide up to £100,000 to two projects, is open to submissions from the 24 London boroughs who are LOTI members. Project submissions will need to address one or more of the themes of: better residential and care homes; better care at home; better community support models.

More information and expression of interest forms are available on the LOTI website here.