About Living Needs

---

The UK housing crisis has deepened over the past 10 years due to a combination of policy failures, economic pressures, supply constraints, and shifting demand having a substantial impact on our economy.

 We currently face a cost-of-living crisis where rent/mortgages, bills, and the price of goods have skyrocketed, outpacing wages. Naturally, the majority of the UK population are struggling with the impact of these changes and those at the lower end of the earnings scale and those with support needs feel the impact the most.

 Over the past five years, UK homelessness has shown a sustained upward trend, with statutory homelessness assessments and temporary accommodation use reaching record levels across England, Scotland and Wales. 

ONS data indicates that by March 2024, temporary accommodation numbers had risen to around 117,400 households in England, 16,300 in Scotland, and 6,400 in Wales, the highest recorded in at least six years. GOV.UK releases for 2024–26 show that England continues to record 80,000–92,000 homelessness assessments per quarter, with 135,580 households in temporary accommodation as of March 2026—an increase on the previous year.  
 

The UK government and local housing authorities have set the task of reducing homelessness - The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA), although have faced ongoing challenges as they’ve continued to struggle to build/provide enough homes. 

The homelessness legislation requires local authorities to take reasonable steps to try to prevent or relieve a household’s homelessness by helping them to secure accommodation that will be available to them for at least 6 months.

 For individuals with care needs, including those requiring supported accommodation or supported living, local authorities must ensure that any placement meets the person’s assessed support requirements, provides appropriate supervision or assistance, and enables them to maintain stability and safety. This includes working with commissioned providers, adult social care teams and specialist housing services to secure accommodation that is not only available but also suitable for the individual’s level of need. 

This is where we at Living Needs bridge the gap. We partner with private landlords, government organisations, and housing associations/charities, to ensure that those in need receive the essential support that keeps them off the streets through temporary housing.