Emh contributes to national conversation on improving temporary accommodation
We’re proud to recognise Andrew Humberstone, Head of Specialist Housing at emh, for his recent contribution to a sector‑wide discussion on the future of temporary accommodation.
Andrew has been featured on Homeless Link’s website, sharing insight into a new approach we’ve been trialling with North West Leicestershire District Council.
Temporary accommodation (TA) is a crucial part of the safety net for families facing homelessness, but it’s widely acknowledged that current models often fall short. National research shows that children living in TA experience poorer health and educational outcomes, while local authority use of temporary accommodation has increased by more than 150 per cent since 2010. This creates pressure on families, communities and already stretched council budgets.
Against that backdrop, Andrew’s contribution highlights the need for better, safer and more sustainable solutions — and showcases how emh is working proactively with local partners to shape them.
A better way to deliver temporary accommodation
Working closely with North West Leicestershire District Council, emh has been testing a model that offers higher‑quality accommodation with wraparound support, but at a significantly lower cost than options such as bed and breakfast placements.
The approach draws on well‑established supported housing principles, making it straightforward to replicate across other local authority areas. Crucially, it keeps residents at the centre of decision‑making and avoids the common pitfalls that lead to long stays and “silt‑up” in temporary accommodation services.
A key difference in the model is that the council does not discharge its homelessness duties by placing people directly into the scheme. Instead:
- emh supports the council to meet its statutory duties while investigations are ongoing, or after a full duty has been accepted
- residents retain top priority under the council’s allocation policy
- this enables quicker move‑on into permanent homes
- and prevents blockages that can delay support for other households.
By designing occupancy agreements that reflect this purpose, the partnership ensures the service remains responsive, efficient and firmly focused on the needs of local people.
Sharing learning with the wider sector
Andrew’s blog shines a light on what can be achieved when housing providers and councils work together to rethink the role of temporary accommodation. His contribution reflects our commitment at emh to:
- improving outcomes for families
- supporting councils to deliver cost‑effective, high‑quality services
- reducing reliance on unsuitable placements
- and helping communities thrive through safe, stable homes.
We’re proud to see Andrew’s work recognised on a national platform and to share learning that may help shape better models elsewhere.
If you’d like to know more about our approach, please get in touch with Andrew