Question to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the extent to which families living in temporary accommodation are experiencing isolation; and what steps they intend to take to mitigate such isolation.

The government has undertaken a significant programme of work backed by over £1.2 billion, to tackle homelessness. This includes supporting Local Authorities in the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, providing £19.5 million through PRS Access fund to increase access to the private rented sector for families in temporary accommodation (TA), committing £40 million to support London boroughs to procure TA more efficiently and providing the Flexible Homelessness Support Grant, a £617 million fund towards homelessness services.

Last summer we published the cross-government Rough Sleeping Strategy. This sets out an ambitious £100 million package to help people who sleep rough now, but also puts in place the structures that will end rough sleeping once and for all.

We are clear that local authorities should, as far as possible, avoid placing households out of their borough. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, we are aware that, on occasion, it is necessary to place households in accommodation outside of the local area. This is set out in legislation and guidance which local authorities must have regard to.

Homeless households have legal rights to request a review of a decision to place them in unsuitable accommodation.