Placing hundreds of homeless residents into temporary accommodation in the Tendring district cost over £2.5m in 2025.

Now Tendring District Council (TDC) leaders have pledged a stronger and more compassionate response to rising homelessness as they look to reduce the cost of temporary accommodation.

Pressure on the council’s service has risen as 2,190 households asked for help in 2025 as they were homeless or at risk of homelessness. 475 of those required temporary accommodation — including 215 families with children.

The number of households placed into temporary accommodation has more than doubled since 2018/19, partly driven by a sharp rise in single homeless residents – now one of the district’s most urgent areas of need.

At a meeting on January 30, TDC’s cabinet approved its Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026–2031, which sets out the council’s direction for the next five years.

Approval followed an update from the Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation Working Group, which highlighted improvements already under way, including strengthened early intervention, new specialist roles, and reviews of policies, service charges and procurement to secure better quality and better value accommodation.

Councillors also agreed to explore using the council’s own housing stock or other assets to help increase supply locally.

Andy Baker, TDC cabinet member for housing and planning, said: “Behind every statistic is a person or family facing an incredibly difficult moment. Our focus must be on preventing homelessness wherever possible, improving the quality and supply of temporary accommodation, and setting a clear, deliverable plan for the next five years.”
• Click to read The Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031.