Source · Select Committees · Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Deferred
Work with Ombudsman to review resourcing, jurisdiction, and powers for temporary accommodation complaints.
Recommendation
We are disappointed in the Minister for Homelessness and Democracy’s response that vulnerable families living in B&Bs should be expected to “raise a challenge in the courts or bring their concerns to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman” when local authorities do not fulfil their statutory obligations. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44) If the Government believes that the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman is the most suitable avenue for redress when local authorities fail to adhere to their statutory duties regarding temporary accommodation, the Government must work with the Ombudsman to review its resourcing, statutory jurisdiction, and powers, so that it can investigate all complaints of unsuitable temporary accommodation and take appropriate action with haste. (Recommendation, Paragraph 44)
Government Response Summary
The government did not address the recommendation to review the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman's resourcing or powers. Instead, it highlighted its aim to reduce emergency accommodation use for families and the ongoing £8 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots with 20 local authorities.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
19. As set out in response to recommendation 4 above, we do not agree with the Committee that it will never be appropriate for families to be accommodated in temporary accommodation with shared facilities. There can be a role for good-quality accommodation with shared facilities of the types not included in the statutory B&B definition. 20. However, we have been clear we want to see the use of emergency accommodation for homeless families reduce and to eliminate the use of B&Bs for families other than in genuine emergencies. The homelessness strategy will be an essential part of the Government’s plans to achieve this. 21. The Government is working with 20 local authorities with some of the highest use of B&Bs for homeless families, through the £8 million Emergency Accommodation Reduction Pilots. MHCLG’s team of homelessness experts will work in partnership with these local authorities to identify solutions which will work for their local circumstances. This will support local authorities to move families into more suitable accommodation. Out of area temporary accommodation