Unprecedented rise in Oxford homelessness to cost millions

Oxford city Labour councillors discussed the issue at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday (July 10) this week.

As part of the council's response, they agreed to establish a framework for "emergency temporary accommodation".

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Cabinet member for housing Linda Smith said: "In April this year there were 123 people in nightly charge households.

Linda Smith. (Image: Contribution.)

"Just one year ago that number was 12. The year before that the number was two.

"This is a new demand being placed upon us.

"It is predicted this will cost the council an extra three million pounds a year that we haven't budgeted for."

Councillors at the meeting blamed the previous Conservative government for the rise.

An officer at the meeting said the council had prepared a "comprehensive package" in response to the demand which included "increasing the amount of temporary accommodation stock" and introducing "mitigations against prevention".

A council report adds the rise in homelessness is "in line with the national picture" and "the number of homelessness duties accepted in 23/24 was up 90 per cent compared to 2021/22, while the placement rate has increased 170 per cent in the same time period".

Oxford City Council has a "statutory duty" to provide interim accommodation for households "whom the authority has reason to believe are eligible, homeless and in Priority Need".

The cabinet meeting took place on Wednesday. (Image: Oxford City Council.)

The authority currently owns and manages 134 properties in its Temporary Accommodation stock, but if it is unable to provide temporary accommodation is told it must source additional accommodation, which includes utilising Bed and Breakfast facilities. 

At Wednesday's meeting, councillor Nigel Chapman also highlighted the "mental health impact" of homelessness.

Councillor Alex Hollingsworth said he "absolutely endorses the actions being taken" and described it as "trying to make the best of a calamitous situation".

Mr Hollingsworth claimed 'section 21 evictions' - which the new Labour government has now banned - were a "primary cause" of the problem. A section 21 is a legal notice a landlord can use to evict a tenant from an assured shorthold tenancy without giving a reason.

Homelessness in Oxford. (Image: Ed Nix.)

Different political parties have varying views on homelessness.

Some of those on the right of the Conservative party emphasise personal responsibility and tackling issues which they believe to be at the root cause homelessness rather than saying the council should be obliged to house people with taxpayer money.

Oxford council leader Susan Brown said: "What we have set out in terms of our response to this situation is excellent and it’s a huge amount of work I know that‘s been done by your teams to pull this together in very quick time."