‘Left to Pick Up the Pieces’: North East Homeless Charities Say Councils Are Failing Their Duty of Care

Homelessness is growing.

Small homelessness charities across the North East of England say they are struggling to work with local councils, claiming that communication breakdowns, delayed payments and unclear responsibilities are making it harder to support vulnerable people.

Several organisations told have said they believe some councils are failing to meet their duty of care to people who are homeless or at risk, leaving charities to fill gaps in statutory support. Local authorities, however, say they are facing unprecedented financial pressures and rising demand for housing assistance.

Rising demand, limited capacity

Grassroots organisations in Newcastle, Sunderland and Teesside say demand for food, shelter and outreach services has risen sharply in the past two years. Many charities report record numbers of people seeking emergency help, with referrals from local authorities becoming less frequent or delayed.

One manager of a small homelessness charity in Tyne and Wear, who asked not to be named, said:

“We’re seeing more people being turned away or told they don’t qualify for help. Councils have a duty of care, but often that falls to us instead. We do our best, but we’re not funded or resourced like they are.”

Another volunteer in Northumberland described the current system as “unworkable”, saying that staff spend increasing amounts of time chasing local authority housing teams rather than helping clients directly.

Funding and cooperation concerns

Under the Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, local councils have a legal obligation to provide advice, support and temporary accommodation for people who are homeless or at risk.

Charities say that while those duties remain on paper, cooperation at local level has weakened. They cite examples of slow decision-making, lack of coordination and delayed payments for commissioned work.

Some also say that procurement processes increasingly favour larger national providers, leaving small community charities excluded from bids despite their local knowledge and established relationships.

“It used to feel like a partnership,” said one charity director in Middlesbrough. “Now it’s a box-ticking exercise. We spend months waiting for decisions or invoices to be paid. Meanwhile, people are on the streets.”

Council response

Local councils contacted have said they recognise the essential role of voluntary organisations in preventing homelessness.

They acknowledged financial strain but rejected claims that they were failing in their legal duties.

A spokesperson for one North East local authority said:

“Our teams are facing record levels of demand, particularly since the cost-of-living crisis and pressures in the private rental market.

We continue to work closely with partner organisations, but our budgets are under significant pressure following years of cuts to local government funding.”

The Local Government Association (LGA) has warned that councils across England face a collective funding gap of billions of pounds, with housing and homelessness services among the most affected areas.

Some charities have reported that they have been completely ignored by some local reform councilors. with one charity stating they have extended invitations for their local reform councilors to come and meet them but their correspondence has simply been ignored. We are working to to bring further news on this.

The human cost

Charities say the impact of these challenges is felt most by people in crisis.

When housing assessments are delayed or temporary accommodation is unavailable, they say individuals can end up rough sleeping, sofa-surfing or relying on foodbanks for basic needs.

Frontline workers describe a growing sense of frustration and exhaustion.

“We understand councils are stretched,” said a Durham outreach worker.

“But when someone has nowhere to go and they’re told to come back tomorrow, that’s not just bureaucracy that’s someone’s life.”

Calls for improved partnership

Homelessness charities across the region are calling for improved communication, faster payments and a renewed focus on prevention work.

They argue that consistent dialogue between councils and the voluntary sector would make the system more efficient and ensure statutory duties are fulfilled.

A recent report by the national network Homeless Link found that nearly half of homelessness service providers in England fear they may have to scale back or close due to funding pressures.

Advocates warn that if the relationship between councils and small charities continues to deteriorate, more people could fall through the cracks.

Conclusion

While both councils and charities agree that the current system is under immense strain, there remains disagreement over who bears responsibility for those left without help.

For now, the organisations on the front line say they are doing what they can but warn that without clearer cooperation and accountability, the North East’s homelessness crisis is set to deepen.