Record High Levels of Homelessness in West Berkshire

Over the past year, homelessness has risen at an alarming pace in West Berkshire, with a 63% increase in the number of households living in temporary accommodation and record numbers of people sleeping rough.  

But these are not just numbers. Each one represents a family in crisis, a young person with nowhere to go, and residents being priced out of the housing system as costs continue to rise.  

This is placing extreme pressure on both the local council and charities, who are now dealing with a surge in the number of people seeking urgent support.  

The council is doing what it can within the constraints it faces. For example, it has said that it is expanding the range of temporary housing available by refurbishing an empty care home to provide emergency accommodation. However, these are short-term fixes to a long-term problem.  

Housing is an issue that impacts every aspect of our lives, from economic stability to mental health and wellbeing. It is essential that the residents of West Berkshire have affordable, secure, and high-quality homes. Small volunteer-run charities like West Berkshire Homeless in Newbury should not have to step in because the council legally cannot help those without an urgent need such as being pregnant.  

We cannot end up in a situation like Brighton, where those at risk of homelessness are being shipped out of the city and placed in accommodation miles away from the place they call home simply because the system cannot cope. That is why I am calling for additional dedicated funding for local authorities to deliver homelessness services, as well as an increase in social housing. Only with proper investment can we prevent displacement and keep people in their communities. 

With over two decades of experience in local government and 14 years spent managing social housing, I’ve seen first-hand the challenges people face in finding secure, affordable housing. These experiences have shown me just how urgently we need change.  

As the MP for Newbury and as a member of he Housing, Communities, and Local Government (HCLG) Select Committee, I am committed to pushing for tangible reforms that can ease housing pressures and ensure that those at risk of homelessness are supported, not scapegoated.