Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to recruit more supported lodgings hosts to care for teenagers and care leavers aged 16 to 25.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The Government supports the use of supported lodgings as a good option for some care leavers to assist with the transition from care to independent living, but only where it is high-quality and the young person is ready for the level of independence it promotes.
As set out in the Stable Homes, Built on Love Implementation Strategy our long-term ambition is to have a universal offer of wrap around support and accommodation for care leavers through the expansion of Staying Close and by promoting and sharing good practice on supported lodgings.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what guidance his Department issues on the meaning of priority need in the context of tackling homelessness and rough sleeping.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
Guidance on priority need is in Chapter 8 of the Homelessness Code of Guidance .
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of his policies on renters reform on stepping stone accommodation for vulnerable young people that offer fixed term housing at deflated rents.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
In the Government response to our consultation 'A New Deal for Renting', we committed to introduce specific grounds for possession for supported and temporary accommodation providers. These will apply in limited situations, where it is necessary to enable them to continue to operate critical services.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the social housing sector in helping to tackle (a) homelessness and (b) rough sleeping.
Answered by Felicity Buchan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities)
The latest homelessness statistics can be found here and include information on the social rented sector.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan, published on 27 March 2023, on the level of (a) noise complaints against and (b) evictions of victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Dehenna Davison
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer given to Question UIN 175715 on 18 April 2023.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, how many and what proportion of local housing teams apply local connection tests to domestic violence victims fleeing to another geographic area.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to addressing the needs of victims of domestic abuse, as set out in the Domestic Abuse Plan. We understand domestic abuse and security of tenure are issues that often co-exist, and our reforms take steps to support victims. As set out in the “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” White paper, the Government is committed to abolishing Section 21, so called 'no fault' evictions, which will make tenants significantly more secure in their homes, while periodic tenancies will ensure that tenants who are experiencing domestic abuse are not financially 'locked in' to a dangerous situation, as they will be able to end their tenancy at any point. We have also published guidance making clear that the Secretary of State strongly encourages local authorities to disapply the local connection test for victims of domestic abuse.
The information requested on local connection tests is not held centrally.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if his Department will take steps to ensure victims of domestic abuse are not evicted from their homes following anti-social behaviour complaints.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is committed to addressing the needs of victims of domestic abuse, as set out in the Domestic Abuse Plan. We understand domestic abuse and security of tenure are issues that often co-exist, and our reforms take steps to support victims. As set out in the “A Fairer Private Rented Sector” White paper, the Government is committed to abolishing Section 21, so called 'no fault' evictions, which will make tenants significantly more secure in their homes, while periodic tenancies will ensure that tenants who are experiencing domestic abuse are not financially 'locked in' to a dangerous situation, as they will be able to end their tenancy at any point. We have also published guidance making clear that the Secretary of State strongly encourages local authorities to disapply the local connection test for victims of domestic abuse.
The information requested on local connection tests is not held centrally.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure that local connection tests do not lead to victims of domestic violence being denied access to housing.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
Last year we launched a consultation on regulations relating to LAs applying a local connection test for victims of domestic abuse who apply for social housing.
We are currently reviewing the responses.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of children in temporary accommodation.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.
Asked by: Paula Barker (Labour - Liverpool, Wavertree)
Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of cot provision in temporary accommodation.
Answered by Rachel Maclean
The Government is clear that local authorities must ensure temporary accommodation is suitable in relation to the applicant and to all members of their household who normally reside with them, or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them. In particular this means that accommodation must be suitable for any minors. Applicants may request a review of the housing authority's decision that the accommodation offered to them is suitable.
We have committed to providing over £650 million to councils in England over the next two years through the Homelessness Prevention Grant. This is part of the £2 billion the government is spending to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping over the next three years, including in rural communities, to tackle youth homelessness and to reduce the number of families in temporary accommodation.
In line with the practice of successive administrations, details of internal discussions are not normally disclosed.