Stephen has written to the Levelling Up secretary, Michael Gove, asking that the government review the Homelessness Reduction Act after research found out it was failing young people.
A number of East Ham residents have been in touch about the number of young people who are at risk of homelessness. Their letters followed a survey by the charity, Centrepoint, which found that 60 per cent of young people, who had approached their local authority for help, had not been supported into housing.
The Homelessness Reduction Act came into effect in 2018. It strengthened the duties on local authorities to prevent homelessness. The requirement to work to prevent homelessness for all eligible applicants should mean no one who is homeless or threatened with homelessness is turned away without advice and assistance and a personal housing plan as a minimum. There were concerns at the time that the aims of the Act could be undermined as Council were not adequately resourced to meet the new requirements.
Speaking about the letter, Stephen said "I am troubled that the number of local authorities are unable to fulfil their duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act. Issues around funding were raised at the time the legislation was drafted but ministers ignored these concerns.
“I support calls to deliver more affordable social housing which can help transform the lives of young people in East Ham.”