Management & Provision of Emergency Temporary Accommodation

The Council has a statutory duty to provide temporary accommodation for those it considers homeless under the 1996 Housing Act. Initially, when a person approaches the council as homeless, they are placed in emergency temporary accommodation, provided they are assessed as being eligible for assistance and in priority need. The London Borough of Bexley makes temporary placements into its own Hostels, recently purchased street properties and through the procurement of shared and self-contained accommodation within the private rented sector. The Housing Service has seen a steady increase in the number of homeless people approaching the council for assistance and a subsequent increase in the number of people placed in temporary accommodation. The current contractual and framework arrangements need to be extended to increase the supply of properties available, in order to be able to meet the increasing demand.