Liverpool City Council Unveils New Homelessness Strategy to Improve Temporary Accommodation and Housing Outcomes

Strategic Insights -

Liverpool City Council has launched a new five-year strategy to tackle homelessness in the city, aiming to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2025-2030, developed in partnership with residents, local organizations, and people with lived experience, sets out a bold vision to reduce harm, improve housing outcomes, and support individuals to rebuild their lives. The strategy prioritizes prevention and early support, improves access to advice and housing services, and strengthens partnerships with housing providers and community organizations.

Key Takeaways:

  • The new strategy aims to reduce homelessness by prioritizing prevention and early support, improving access to advice and housing services, and strengthening partnerships with housing providers and community organizations.
  • The strategy has been developed in partnership with residents, local organizations, and people with lived experience, reflecting the Council's ambition to reduce harm, improve housing outcomes, and support individuals to rebuild their lives.
  • The number of people experiencing homelessness in Liverpool has risen in recent years, with over 1,700 households living in temporary accommodation as of July 2025, including more than 450 children.
  • Many individuals were placed in hotels or B&Bs due to a shortage of more suitable housing options, resulting in temporary accommodation costs skyrocketing from £250,000 in 2019 to a projected £28.4m by the end of the 2025-2026 financial year.
  • The Council plans to procure more suitable temporary and move-on accommodation to replace B&Bs and hotels, working closely with private sector partners to provide permanent homes.
  • Councillor Hetty Wood emphasized the importance of addressing homelessness, stating that it can affect anyone, and that the new strategy is about prevention, dignity, and long-term solutions.

Statistics:

  • 1,700 households were living in temporary accommodation in Liverpool as of July 2025, including over 450 children.
  • Temporary accommodation costs have risen from £250,000 in 2019 to a projected £28.4m by the end of the 2025-2026 financial year.
  • This represents an increase of over 11,100% in temporary accommodation costs.
  • The Council plans to procure more suitable temporary and move-on accommodation to replace B&Bs and hotels.

Sources:

  • "Liverpool City Council Unveils New Homelessness Strategy to Improve Temporary Accommodation and Housing Outcomes" (Source not provided, but appears to be from a news release)
  • Councillor Hetty Wood's statement