Hackney council has pledged to stop housing homeless people in expensive private temporary housing by 2020.
Hackney provide temporary housing for homeless people before they can find permanent homes in the borough.
This can often be in expensive private hostels or BnBs.
However there is simply not enough social housing available. In the last thirty years, ten thousand Hackney council houses have been sold off under Right to Buy.
As a result many get stuck in temporary housing – for up to five years.
With over one and a half thousand people, Hackney Council has more families living in homeless hostels than anywhere else in London, more than twice of any other borough.
With 25 families contacting Hackney Council daily in need of urgent housing, demand is exceeding the supply of social housing.
The increase in demand has translated to increase in expense – As the council has to pay for hostel rents.
In 2011 this cost the council £9.5 million, this expense has risen to £35 million in 2016.
According to Hackney Council, the pledge now rests on central government support to tackle homelessness.
“until the government recognises the scale of the housing crisis and stops adding fuel to the fire with its welfare cuts and plans for selling off social housing, all we can do is work to mitigate its effects and provide the best support we can to Hackney residents.”
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineHackney pledge to eliminate private temporary housing by 2020
Short Headline
Standfirst
Hackney council has pledged to stop housing homeless people in expensive private temporary housing by 2020.
Hackney provide temporary housing for homeless people before they can find permanent homes in the borough.
This can often be in expensive private hostels or BnBs.
However there is simply not enough social housing available. In the last thirty years, ten thousand Hackney council houses have been sold off under Right to Buy.
As a result many get stuck in temporary housing – for up to five years.
With over one and a half thousand people, Hackney Council has more families living in homeless hostels than anywhere else in London, more than twice of any other borough.
With 25 families contacting Hackney Council daily in need of urgent housing, demand is exceeding the supply of social housing.
The increase in demand has translated to increase in expense – As the council has to pay for hostel rents.
In 2011 this cost the council £9.5 million, this expense has risen to £35 million in 2016.
According to Hackney Council, the pledge now rests on central government support to tackle homelessness.
“until the government recognises the scale of the housing crisis and stops adding fuel to the fire with its welfare cuts and plans for selling off social housing, all we can do is work to mitigate its effects and provide the best support we can to Hackney residents.”
A 2024 Freedom of Information request showed Bromley Council had £4.5 million invested in arms companies that year with £1.5 million reportedly linked to Israel.
Undercover officers raided three linked shops in Barking town centre, revealing how illicit tobacco is being hidden in walls, ceilings and nearby locations to evade detection.
More than 330,000 people across the UK sought support from the Stop It Now helpline in 2025 over concerns about their own or someone else’s online sexual behaviour towards children, according to new charity data. The anonymous service says contacts by phone, email and webchat rose significantly over the year.
