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Pan-London temporary accommodation company launches
Councils in London have launched a new company designed to source temporary accommodation for homeless households across the city more effectively.
Thirteen boroughs have become founding members of the company, Capital Letters, which held its first councillors’ meeting last week.
The collectively owned not-for-profit company will procure housing from private landlords for homeless families, starting in June.
It hopes to secure nearly 20,000 homes after three years, saving the participating councils an estimated £116m by reducing competition between them and helping keep homeless households close to their home borough.
An Inside Housing investigation last summer revealed that councils across England spent nearly £1bn on temporary accommodation in 2017/18 – with 78% of the bill footed by London’s 33 councils.
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Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for housing management and modernisation at Southwark Council, has been elected chair of the Capital Letters boroughs’ representative body.
She said: “Capital Letters is an exciting project and shows boroughs’ commitment to finding new solutions to London’s homelessness challenge.
“I look forward to seeing Capital Letters progress over the coming months and start delivering the benefits boroughs are so keen to achieve.”
Sirajul Islam, cabinet member for housing at Tower Hamlets Council, and Alex Sawyer, cabinet member for communities at Bexley Council, have been appointed vice-chairs.
The representative body is made up from councillors from each member borough and will be responsible for Capital Letters’ strategy and business plan.
Mark Baigent, interim director of housing and regeneration at Tower Hamlets Council, has been appointed chair of the Capital Letters board of directors, which is in charge of implementing the representative body’s strategy.
Capital Letters was set up by umbrella group London Councils and the London Housing Directors’ Group.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has provided the project with £38m in grant.
Darren Rodwell, executive member for housing and planning at London Councils, said: “Capital Letters is an innovative new approach to addressing London’s homelessness crisis.
“Through working together, boroughs will strengthen our market position and secure better housing options for homeless Londoners.
“London has the highest levels of homelessness in the country and boroughs are determined to improve outcomes for homeless Londoners.”
The thirteen participating boroughs are: Tower Hamlets, Haringey, Waltham Forest, Brent, Ealing, Bexley, Lewisham, Croydon, Redbridge, Southwark, Barking & Dagenham, Westminster and Hammersmith & Fulham.
More councils are expected to become members in future.
