A new Family Welcome Centre has opened in Harold Hill, providing temporary accommodation for families facing homelessness while helping Havering Council reduce its reliance on expensive hotel placements.
The purpose-built facility offers 74 self-contained homes for families who would otherwise be placed in temporary accommodation, often outside the borough. Alongside accommodation, the centre provides on-site support to help residents access housing advice, education, employment and other essential services.
The development comes as councils across London continue to face growing demand for temporary accommodation, driven by rising homelessness and increasing housing costs. Havering Council says the new centre will allow more families to remain close to their schools, healthcare providers and support networks while they wait for permanent housing.
Unlike many temporary accommodation schemes, which rely on privately leased properties or hotels, the Family Welcome Centre is based within a council-owned building. This gives the authority greater control over the quality of the accommodation while reducing long-term costs.
The council estimates the new centre could save around £1.7 million each year by reducing the need for costly nightly-paid accommodation and keeping more families within the borough.
Councillor Martin Lardner, Cabinet Member for Housing Demand, said:
“The Family Welcome Centre is about supporting Havering families who are already in housing need and to whom we owe a duty. Too often, that has meant placing people in hotels or far outside the borough, which is disruptive and very costly.
“By creating high-quality accommodation here in Havering, we can keep families closer to their schools, support networks and services.”
As well as providing accommodation, the centre has been designed to offer practical support to families, helping them move towards long-term housing and reducing the impact that homelessness can have on employment, education and wellbeing.
The Family Welcome Centre has also received industry recognition for its design and construction, including a Highly Commended award in the Social Housing Development of the Year category at The Bricks awards. It also achieved the highest possible score under the Considerate Constructors Scheme and received a Local Authority Building Control Site Recognition Award for construction standards.
The project forms the first phase of the wider regeneration of Harold Hill, which also includes planned improvements in Farnham, Hilldene and Chippenham Road as part of the council’s long-term investment in the area.