A new partnership has been launched to help homeless people gain access to privately rented homes.

TDS, the leading tenancy deposit service, will fund specialist staff at six centres run by the charity Crisis to work with landlords and those facing homelessness.

The funding will help homeless people with the costs and practicalities of taking up accommodation in the private rented sector.

This will include TDS providing money to help with deposits, fund new furniture and to help with the cost of travel to view properties.

Homelessness levels at new high

The TDS and Crisis will also undertake research to inform policymakers on the best ways of helping those who are, or are at risk of being homeless, to access privately rented homes.

Official figures show that between January and March this year, 86,520 households approached their local council for homelessness assistance and were deemed eligible for support – the highest number since 2018, when the Homelessness Reduction Act was introduced.

A total of 117,450 households were in temporary accommodation as of 31 March, up 12% from the same time last year. Of these, 17,750 were living in bed-and-breakfast accommodation, up 30% from the same time last year.

More difficult to source private rentals

According to last year’s annual homelessness monitor published by Crisis, 97% of councils said it had become more difficult to source private rentals for households experiencing or at risk of being homeless, compared with the previous year.

Dr Jennifer Harris, Head of Policy and Research at TDS Group, said: “The government has rightly committed to developing a cross-government strategy to end homelessness for good.

“For all the challenges it faces, the private rented sector can play an important and positive role in helping to achieve this mission.

“Working with Crisis, landlords and those who face homelessness, we will build the evidence needed to demonstrate how best to improve access to stable, secure and decent rented housing for those most in need.”