Funding secured this year by the council from the GLA, developer contributions, and the Local Authority Housing Fund will enable the council to acquire hundreds of homes. This investment comes as councils across the country continue to face unprecedented pressures from the housing crisis. Haringey currently has 2,758 families living in temporary accommodation, representing 8,288 people, or around three per cent of the borough's population.
Cllr Tammy Hymas, Co-Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, stated: "Everyone deserves a safe, secure and affordable home. It is the foundation that allows children to thrive, supports good health and gives families the stability they need to build their futures. Like councils across the country, we are dealing with the consequences of a chronic shortage of affordable housing. Too many families are spending far too long in temporary accommodation because there simply are not enough homes available at rents people can afford."
"That is why we are taking action. Through funding secured from a range of sources, we will help more than 1,000 residents move out of temporary accommodation and into homes where they can put down roots and plan for the future," Cllr Hymas added.
The council currently spends almost £60 million each year on temporary accommodation, much of it paid to private providers. The aim is to invest more of this money in delivering lasting solutions for residents rather than it flowing out of the borough. By acquiring and building more genuinely affordable homes, the council can reduce its reliance on temporary accommodation, provide better value for taxpayers, and give more families the security they deserve.
The Cabinet report outlines how the funding will be allocated: GLA funding will help 362 residents move out of temporary accommodation; funding secured through developer contributions will support around 100 more residents; and the latest Local Authority Housing Fund allocation will assist a further 600 residents.
