Councils have a proud history of welcoming new arrivals, stepping forward at times of crisis with local partners and with local communities so families and individuals can be safe and supported.
Local government’s hard work in supporting those fleeing the war in Ukraine should be celebrated, alongside the generosity of local residents who have opened up their homes and their lives to those in need.
It is, of course, a tragedy that this support is still needed because the conflict continues, more than a year since the Russian invasion on 24 February 2022.
Councils want to support families to rebuild their lives so it is concerning that we are seeing more people presenting as homeless to councils and, in particular, families facing the uncertainty of temporary accommodation.
I know councils will continue to do all they can to help those who are owed homelessness duties, but this is not the best route for families to find permanent homes.
Ukrainians are entering an already log-jammed system where we just do not have enough housing and every council has significant council house waiting lists.
The Government has been working with the sector on homelessness reduction funding, but we urgently need further clarification on how the £150 million it announced in December can be used by councils, particularly given the funding changes announced at the same time.
And while the £500 million provided to increase housing supply is positive, it does not come with revenue funding to help families access it.
Councils have been at the sharp end of the rise in the number of people presenting as homeless and we need urgent solutions to pressing housing needs in the short and the long term, across all the schemes that welcome new arrivals to the UK.
