Greenwich: Temporary Accommodation, Homelessness and the Cost of Inaction

Temporary accommodation is one of the clearest — and most costly — symptoms of England’s housing crisis. In this episode of 1.5M New Homes: The Local Government Challenge, Toby Fox speaks to Cllr Pat Slattery, Cabinet Member for Housing, Neighbourhoods and Homelessness at the Royal Borough of Greenwich, about the scale and human cost of homelessness. The conversation covers:

1. 29,000 households on Greenwich’s housing register
2. 2,000 households in temporary accommodation

-Families spending years in placements meant to be short-term

1. Hotel use costing up to £29,000 per night at its peak
2. Why building council homes is central to reducing homelessness

This episode focuses on need and hardship for a reason. These pressures — on families, on councils, and on public services — are why the ambition of 1.5 million new homes matters. Not as a slogan, but as prevention. Sponsored by Red Loft and Lovell Partnerships.