A summary of the National Plan to End Homelessness

Emma Croft, Policy and Research Officer, Campbell Tickell

In December 2025, the Government published its National Plan to End Homelessness (the Plan), detailing its strategy to create a better future for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This Plan refers to England since housing and homelessness duties are devolved across the UK.

The Plan’s long-term goal is for homelessness to be rare, brief and non-recurring. The Government sets out how it will support councils and public services to shift from crisis to prevention and tackle the most intransigent forms of homelessness. A key mechanism of this plan will involve collaboration across government departments.

The five pillars of the strategy:

1. Universal Prevention: Long-term systemic fixes to make homelessness rare.

Housing supply: A 10-year Social and Affordable Homes Programme supported by £2.5 billion in loans and social rent settlement (CPI +1%).
Tenancy security: The Renters’ Rights Act will abolish “no-fault” evictions and rental bidding.
Income support: Reviewing Local Housing Allowance and creating a Crisis and Resilience Fund to tackle poverty.
Allocations policy: Plans to update social housing allocations guidance, addressing key barriers to fair access to social housing.

2. Targeted prevention: Addressing specific high-risk groups.

A new “duty to collaborate” for public services.
Specific targets to prevent homelessness for those leaving institutions such as, care or prison.

3. Preventing crisis: Immediate intervention for those at imminent risk.

Funding: £3.5 billion allocated for 2026–2029.
Early detection: Using AI and the Ending Rough Sleeping Risk Assessment Tool to identify at-risk households and prioritise person-centred support.
Legal support: “Know your rights” materials and increased legal aid to help tenants stay in their homes.

4. Emergency Response (Brief): Mitigating the impact of active homelessness.

Child Welfare: New duties for councils to notify schools and GPs when a child is in temporary accommodation (TA).
Temporary Accommodation reform: A national target to eliminate the use of B&Bs for families (limiting stay to 6 weeks) and applying the Decent Homes Standard to temporary housing.

5. Recovery & Stability (Non-recurring): Making homelessness “non-recurring.”

Rough Sleeping: A goal to halve long-term rough sleeping and repeal the Vagrancy Act by Spring 2026.
Support Services: Linking housing with mental health, substance use, and employment support.

Expectations on the Government and partner organisations

1. Planning and accountability

Local councils: Must publish a specific Action Plan to accompany their local homelessness strategy. This plan must include local targets that align with the national Outcomes Framework.

Mayors and Regional Leaders: Are expected to drive high-level coordination and collaboration across their regions. They will receive specific funding to facilitate this multi-agency work.

National Oversight: Progress will be monitored by the Inter-Ministerial Group, with formal progress reports published every two years to ensure the strategy stays on track.

2. Workforce development

Training & Skills: Organisations will have access to a new National Workforce Programme. This provides essential training, specialist housing/homelessness advice, and professional development for frontline staff.

Expert Support: Councils facing severe challenges will receive targeted expert support and closer monitoring to help improve their delivery.

3. Collaboration and engagement

Cross-Sector duty: Public services, charities, and local authorities are expected to work more closely together, moving away from “siloed” working toward a shared prevention model.

Lived experience: Organisations must incorporate insights from the Lived Experience Forum and Expert Group to ensure that services are actually working for those who use them and to help adapt interventions over time.

4. Data and innovation

Test and learn: Organisations are encouraged to trial innovative practices. Successful local pilots will be rolled out nationally and shared as best practice.

Evidence-based decisions: There is a heavy focus on using high-quality data to track outcomes rather than just measuring activities.

A summary of the National Plan to End Homelessness