MORE than 500 households in Thurrock remain in temporary accommodation as the council prepares to approve a new four-year plan to tackle homelessness.

Latest figures in a report to next week's cabinet show 537 households are in temporary accommodation, including 295 in nightly-let properties.

The total has fallen from a peak of 723 households and was down to 579 in September.

The turnaround reverses a three-year trend when temporary accommodation numbers increased by an average of 15 households every month. The council says the service is now achieving an average reduction of around 15 households per month, delivering both direct savings and significant cost avoidance for the Council.

The figures and reports to be put to the cabinet were discussed by the council's Place overview and Scrutiny Committee in September.

Cllr Rob Willoughby, cabinet member for adults, health and housing services, said the reduction was the result of earlier intervention and a greater focus on preventing homelessness.

Changes began last year after a damning report on the way the council had been dealing with its homelessness situation.

He said: "Thanks to a new approach that focuses on prevention, earlier intervention and supporting people before they reach crisis point, we now have fewer households in temporary accommodation and have considerably reduced our reliance on nightly lets.

"This has the dual benefit of not only being more cost-effective for council taxpayers but also, more importantly, helping more households find stability and independence."

Cabinet members will be asked next Wednesday (18 November) to approve the council's Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Action Plan for 2026 to 2030.

The plan includes measures to prevent evictions, provide financial and housing advice, reduce rough sleeping and help people find permanent homes.

It also proposes more support for care leavers, prison leavers, domestic abuse survivors, refugees, veterans and people leaving hospital.

The council aims to save £995,000 from its homelessness budget in 2026/27 by reducing its reliance on expensive emergency and nightly-paid accommodation.

However, a council report warns homelessness remains a financial risk, particularly when accommodation costs cannot be fully recovered through Housing Benefit.

Commissioners have backed the plan, which will be monitored and reviewed annually.

Additional documents put to cabinet:

Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/documents/s55420/Appendix%203%20Homelessness%20Prevention%20and%20Rough%20Sleeping%20Strategy%202025-2030.pdf

Accommodation Placement Policy: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/documents/s55419/Appendix%202%20Accommodation%20Placement%20Policy%202024.pdf

Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Action Plan 2026- 2030: https://democracy.thurrock.gov.uk/documents/s55418/Appendix%201%20Homelessness%20Prevention%20and%20Rough%20Sleeping%20Action%20Plan%202026-2030.pdf