Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee have issued urgent calls for closer cooperation between housing associations and local councils to prevent homelessness across the region.
At a recent committee meeting focused on the work of the Homelessness Taskforce and efforts to reduce rough sleeping, officials stressed the importance of early intervention to keep people in their homes and avoid evictions. The discussion highlighted concerns about insufficient collaboration between local authorities and housing associations, leading to renewed appeals for formal agreements requiring joint working where legally possible.
Walsall councillor Vera Waters pointed out the shortcomings in current communication, saying, “Housing associations do not link in with the council to assess and prevent homelessness and Section 21 notices. This disconnect causes preventable evictions.”
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Committee chair Andrew Burrow proposed reviewing contractual agreements to include clauses compelling housing associations to collaborate with local authorities. “In the contracts we sign as a Combined Authority, can we explore legally requiring housing associations to work jointly to prevent homelessness?” he asked. “It’s an avenue worth investigating.”
Neelam Sunder, Head of Designing Out Homelessness at WMCA, elaborated on ongoing initiatives aimed at early identification of households at risk. “Through a project with Walsall Council, we analyze linked data such as rent and council tax arrears to spot households at risk of eviction,” she explained. “We engage with both private and social landlords to intervene early, ensuring tenants remain housed before problems escalate.”
Sunder also mentioned outreach efforts involving schools to identify vulnerable families sooner, emphasizing, “It’s all about keeping people in housing. The route to housing should never start with becoming homeless.”
She noted that national conversations include proposals for a new ‘duty to collaborate’ among key partners, beyond the existing ‘duty to refer,’ though the specifics remain to be clarified. “Hopefully, we will have input to shape how this collaboration will work,” she added.
The committee’s calls highlight the critical need for improved partnership between housing providers and councils to address homelessness proactively and ensure everyone has access to stable housing.