Opinion: We must not rest on our laurels

I am delighted that local authorities have effectively ended the long-term use of B&B hotels for homeless families. This achievement is backed, in most councils, by a change in culture towards minimising the use of B&B wherever possible.

Along with the implementation of the 2003 Homelessness (Suitability of Accommodation) (England) Order from 1 April, this means that structures are in place to ensure homeless families should no longer have to endure long stays in unsuitable B&B hotels. Even those very few councils that failed to meet the 31 March target date for getting all homeless families out of B&Bs are confident of complying with the terms of the order.

The number of councils that are setting their own, local targets for minimising, if not completely avoiding, the use of B&B for all homeless households is particularly pleasing. There has been a sea change in the attitude towards the use of B&Bs.

Now, the ODPM's homelessness and housing support directorate is continuing to engage with others, within and outside government, on a new agenda.

This new agenda involves sustaining the B&B target while maintaining and, where possible, reducing still further levels of rough sleeping – which are already the lowest ever.

Meanwhile, there are still too many households, especially families with children, in temporary accommodation.

This doesn't necessarily mean that this accommodation is unfit; that is too simplistic and an inaccurate reflection of the bulk of the accommodation councils are endeavouring to use. Increasingly, this is good-quality, private sector accommodation available to households for many years and well-managed by councils, RSLs or approved private landlords and agents. The number of such homes leased by councils and RSLs has increased by around 20,000 during the past two years, getting families out of B&Bs and meaning that many coming into the homelessness system never have to go into bed and breakfast at all.

We will be improving the standard of temporary accommodation for all when the revised homelessness code of guidance is published in June, clarifying and pulling together concisely the existing legislation and standards all authorities need to have regard to when considering using something as temporary accommodation.

There has been a sea change in the attitude towards the use of B&Bs but there are still too many families in temporary accommodation

We have already published briefings on the additional positive outcomes we are asking councils to deliver on. The code of guidance will also contain statutory guidance in relation to access to the support services such as health, education and social services, that should be available for all households going through the homelessness system. To this end the ODPM has supported the Association of London Government and the Greater London Authority on the development of their Notify project, launched last week.

It is a web-based system through which councils will inform housing, health, education and social services when anybody in any form of temporary housing is moved to a new address. This is a step forward in ensuring homeless people, and families in particular, retain access to the services they need – and don't fall through the net.

Using the private sector clearly carries a cost, therefore we will be looking at issues such as cost-effectiveness of current forms of temporary accommodation and perceived benefit traps. Thousands of families in B&Bs was certainly not cost-effective and gave no incentive to go back to work.

We are not resting on our laurels. Further action is needed on the wider prevention of homelessness, ensuring advice is of consistently high quality and that options are available to address housing need before the crisis of homelessness occurs. Overarching all of this should be authorities' delivery of their homelessness strategies.

The ODPM has created a new homelessness implementation team within the homelessness and housing support directorate to help local authorities in this challenging agenda.

This team pulls together the experience and external focus of the former bed and breakfast unit and the rough sleepers team. The implementation team will work proactively with authorities to identify and address areas of concern as well as promoting and publicising examples of good practice. Officials are already actively engaging with councils on the promotion of new ideas and innovative practice.