With historically high numbers of homeless families currently living in temporary accommodation, this session will seek to understand how housing associations and local authorities can work together to support more people out of homelessness.

Councils and charities frequently see housing associations as creating barriers which sometimes prevent homeless families and homeless people being housed and sustaining a tenancy.

Factors have combined to make housing associations more cautious and more inclined to introduce detailed pre-tenancy and affordability checks.

So how can housing associations, with the resources to house homeless people, work with local authorities, who have the statutory responsibilities, and with charities to find solutions?

This session will provide an overview of the problem, what changes the Homes for Cathy alliance is campaigning for and some best practice examples that the sector can learn from.