Communities and Local Government and the Housing Corporation have announced the formation of a new action team to tackle homelessness in London.

Working alongside local authorities and housing associations in the capital, the team will be based at the London Field Office of the Housing Corporation and formed of hand-picked senior level secondees from local organisations.

Key appointments have already been made and recruitment is well underway, the government reports.

Responsible for preventing homelessness in London, the team will work with borough authorities, promoting good practice and extending the current work of Communities and Local Government.

“This joint venture between us and the Housing Corporation will cement the relationships between local authorities and housing associations and will step up the support available to help families out of temporary accommodation in the capital,” said housing minister Yvette Cooper.

“But ultimately we need to build more homes,” she added. “That is why we have changed the planning rules to make clear we need more new family homes in London and across the country.”

More than 60,000 households in the capital live in temporary accommodation, according to recent figures.

© Adfero Ltd