Issue - meetings

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults, Housing and Health. To be presented by the Cabinet Member for Housing & Planning (Deputy Leader)

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST RELATING TO THIS ITEM:

None

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approved, in accordance with Contract Standing Orders (CSOs)?21.01 and CSO?2.01(c), the acceptance of the grant from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for the Rough Sleeping Prevention and Recovery Grant (RSPARG) for the funding period 2025–26.

2.    Noted that the total grant funding amount was £2,137,751, with the detailed breakdown of the allocated funding set out in Appendix?A of the report.

Reasons for decision

Haringey Council had been awarded grants totalling £2,137,751 by MHCLG for the 2025/26 financial year. The funding was ring?fenced for the purpose of preventing, reducing and ending homelessness and rough sleeping.

The grants enabled the Council to carry out its statutory responsibilities under legislation including the Homelessness Reduction Act?2019, the Care Act?2014, and the Equality Act?2010, by providing housing?related support to vulnerable people to help them live independent and fulfilling lives within the community for as long as possible.

In addition, the grants supported the Council in achieving the strategic aims set out in the Corporate Delivery Plan?2024–26, and contributed to the strategic objectives of Adult Social Care and the Rough Sleeping Strategy?2023–27.

Alternative options considered

The Council had a legal and statutory obligation, as defined by the Homelessness Reduction Act, to prevent and relieve homelessness. Acceptance of the grant enabled the Council to meet these statutory duties in relation to homelessness prevention and relief.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report.

It was explained that the Council’s mission was to support the development of a fairer and greener borough. The housing crisis in London had resulted in increasing numbers of local residents being unable to afford private rents or access home ownership. This created a continued need for additional affordable housing.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that the Council delivered significant levels of new council housing, letting homes at council rents. Around 1,000 homes had been completed, with a further 2,000 under construction and on track for completion by 2031. Haringey was among the largest local authority housebuilders nationally and expanded its approach to include the delivery of affordable housing for key workers and other residents on lower incomes. Despite this, pressures from the wider housing market remained significant, with some residents continuing to experience homelessness due to rising rents, property sales by landlords and other contributing factors.

It was noted that, nationally, levels of rough sleeping and homelessness increased significantly after 2010. The number of households placed in temporary accommodation by councils more than doubled, and rough sleeping rose substantially across England and London. Changes to national funding and support programmes contributed to these trends. In this context, Haringey had developed a comprehensive street homelessness service. Rough sleeping in the borough reduced by 46% from 2022, contrasting with wider national and London trends. Addressing homelessness was established as a core council priority. The Council set an objective to end the routine use of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation for temporary housing and achieved this, with such accommodation used only in exceptional circumstances.

The Cabinet Member explained that the borough continued to face pressures related to homelessness and rough sleeping, including increasing demand for temporary accommodation and more complex needs among residents. Despite these challenges, progress was made in reducing rough sleeping and strengthening prevention activity through partnership working and targeted investment. The report sought approval to accept £2.1m in grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the North London Housing Partnership for 2025–26. This funding supported the continuation and development of prevention pathways, outreach services, specialist provision and work with groups disproportionately affected by homelessness. The funding supported the council’s statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act, Care Act and Equality Act, and enabled delivery of priorities within the Corporate Delivery Plan, Adult Social Care objectives and the Rough Sleeping Strategy 2023–27. Acceptance of the funding enabled the council to sustain services and provide support to residents at risk of homelessness.

Following questions from Councillors Cawley-Harrison, the following information was shared:

• It was noted that there were separate proposals underway to extend the rough sleeping night shelter site at Osbourne Grove as meanwhile usage. It was stressed that this site had provided some positive outcomes.
  
  
• It was explained that the grant funding would be utilised commission additional services to meet more complex needs. It was stressed that funding would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 437