OnDemand: The National Homelessness Conference 2026
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2026 Supporters Included:
2026 Overview
Recent figures show that over 123,000 households were in temporary accommodation as of June 2024, marking the highest levels recorded to date. The financial implications are also significant, with costs to local authorities estimated to have risen from £1.6 billion in 2022–23 to approximately £2.1 billion in 2023–24. These pressures have prompted ongoing discussion about the balance between emergency provision and long-term prevention efforts.
The conference explores a range of themes, including:
- The use of bed and breakfast accommodation, particularly for families, and the implications of placements that exceed statutory time limits
- The growing number of households placed outside their local area, and the social and logistical challenges this can present
- The absence of a national homelessness strategy in England, in contrast to the devolved administrations, and the implications for coordinated policy development
- Anticipated developments, including the Government’s planned homelessness strategy and a detailed housing plan expected in 2025, which aims to deliver 1.5 million new homes during the current Parliament
This conference offers a timely platform for local authorities, housing providers, charities, policymakers, and academics to engage in evidence-based dialogue, share best practice, and contribute to shaping the future of homelessness policy and provision in England.
The National Homelessness Conference 2026 explores innovative strategies for supporting people experiencing homelessness and preventing rough sleeping among those at risk.
2026 Agenda
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Hilary Bartle, CEO, Stonepillow
Keynote: Collective Action to Prevent Homelessness: Regional Approaches in Practice
- The National Homelessness Strategy and today’s system challenge
- The Accelerator model in practice
- Lessons from delivery to date
Niamh Flannigan, Head of Implementation, Centre for Homelessness Impact
Keynote: Securing Safe Housing for All: Strengthening Housing Support and Services
- Examining the continued rise in temporary accommodation costs, with local authority spending exceeding £1.1 billion and increasing by over 78% in five years
- Investigating the root causes of the UK housing crisis, including underinvestment in social housing and insufficient regulation in the private rented sector
- Providing strategic guidance for local authorities and homelessness services on implementing effective housing support, including Housing First and housing-led approaches
- Sharing best practices for managing temporary accommodation placements and supporting successful transitions into secure, long-term housing
Salma Ravat MBE, CEO, One Roof Leicester
Case Study: Preventing Youth Homelessness Before It Happens – Working in Schools to Identify and Support Children at Risk
- Description of youth homelessness today – it’s leading causes and the scale of the crisis
- Explanation of pre-16 Prevention, the story of how it started and how it works
- Examination of what we’ve learnt in our Pilot programme so far
- Outline of Upstream England – the approach we take in schools and what happens next
Stephen Elder, National Prevention Manager, Centrepoint
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Preventing Health Problems Among People Experiencing Homelessness: What Can Hospitals Do?
Aligning with the NHS 10 year plan, this research presents evidence on:
- The magnitude of this undercounted population
- Health needs, opportunities, and inequities
- ‘What works’ for hospital-based prevention
- Professional and lived experience views on hospital care and prevention
Serena will use a pragmatic public health strategic planning framework to bring together the evidence and make actionable recommendations for practice and policy.
Dr Serena Luchenski, Clinical Associate Professor, Consultant Public Health, UCL
Case Study: Greater Manchester’s Approach to Ending Rough Sleeping: Progress, Pressures, and the Path Forward
- 44% reduction in rough sleeping since 2017 through local initiatives
- New pressures from asylum evictions and policy changes
- Rising costs and financial strain on local authorities
- Calls for national support and coordinated action
Paul Dennett, Mayor, City of Salford, Homelessness Lead, Greater Manchester
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Case Study: Reframing Homeless Health – Somerset’s Specialist Outreach Healthcare Service for People Experiencing Homelessness
- Highlighting the context around the approach taken to reframe homelessness as a health and wellbeing issue
- The steps, collaboration, and strategy needed to provide an equitable Inclusion Health offer
- Delivering a service, making the cohort visible in data and evaluating the demonstrable impact and outcomes
- The iterative nature of the service development, including the introduction of the Rough Sleeper Social Worker role, acknowledging contemporary practice in Manchester, and addressing system deficits identified in the Homeless Health Needs Assessment
Andy Lloyd, Health Improvement Manager for Wider Determinants, Somerset Council
Dr Laura Devlin, Homeless and Inclusion Health GP, NHS Somerset
Case Study: Homelessness and Rough Sleeping in The Countryside: Challenges, Collaboration, and Creative Solutions
- Recognise the specific challenges of rural homelessness, including access issues and the importance of multi-agency collaboration and tailored escalation pathways
- Identify innovative practices and the role of technology in improving outreach and support in rural settings
- Apply key lessons and practical insights to inform and adapt approaches within other rural or semi-rural areas
Martin Collett, Chief Executive, English Rural
Dr Carin Tunåker, Senior Lecturer in Law specialising in homelessness and inequalities, University of Kent
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Breaking the Cycle: Hospital-Based Support for Patients Facing Homelessness
- Explore how collaboration between NHS trusts and local partners can support patients who are homeless or at risk
- Understand the role of an on-site Hospital Homeless Advocate in delivering timely, tailored assistance
- Learn how face-to-face staff training improves the identification and referral of vulnerable patients
- Examine how access to essential items and coordinated discharge planning can reduce readmissions and improve wellbeing
Elizabeth Keat, Homeless Integration Lead, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Keynote: Porchlight Strategy 2024–2029: Fighting for Lasting Change to End Homelessness
- Strengthening partnerships to improve local services and decision making, campaigning for fair policy and increasing awareness
- Developing services to reach people earlier, and supporting people to navigate and understand local services available
- Delivering evidence-based services which make lasting changes from strengthening supported housing models to developing skills which lead to employment opportunities
- Promoting equity and inclusion, ensuring services are accessible and fair for all individuals
Tom Neumark, CEO, Porchlight
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Hilary Bartle, CEO, Stonepillow
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Speakers
Paul Dennett
Mayor, City of Salford, Homelessness Lead, Greater Manchester
Niamh Flannigan
Head of Implementation
Centre for Homelessness Impact
Stephen Elder
National Prevention Manager
Centrepoint
Salma Ravat MBE
CEO
One Roof Leicester
Andy Lloyd
Health Improvement Manager – Wider Determinants Public Health
Somerset Council
Dr Laura Devlin
Homeless and Inclusion Health GP
NHS Somerset
Dr Carin Tunaker
Senior Lecturer in Law specialising in homelessness and inequalities
University of Kent
Hilary Bartle
CEO
Stonepillow
Martin Collett
Chief Executive
English Rural
Tom Neumark
CEO
Porchlight
Elizabeth Keat
Homeless Integration Lead
Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust
Dr Serena Luchenski
Clinical Associate Professor, Consultant Public Health
UCL
Testimonials
Truly inspiring to hear about the work that is taking place to help rough sleepers and the homeless.
Great opportunity to hear and be inspired by passionate people who believe in building relationship and trust as fundamentals to delivery good equitable services.
