Events
MV Test 1

Global Executive Live Panel: Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis

Rewatch the session:

This session explored tackling the housing and homelessness crisis, the shared challenges and some of the approaches that are being developed by different councils. Local government is at the sharp end of rising demand for affordable housing and an increasing homelessness crisis that is affecting many countries across the globe. Market failures in both supply and demand offer a complex and tangled web of policy development and solutions. At the same time, we see how local government is leading new initiatives and harnessing the strengths of local democracy when innovating for the future of housing.

This session is part of our Future Local Lab Panel series. Explore more local solutions to global challenges and other events – FREE for LGIU members.

Key areas of exploration

Addressing long-term drivers on demographics and planning for the future with housing.
Working with private developers and addressing supply-side drivers.
Adopting preventative models of service delivery for homelessness.
Working with communities and community organisations to tackle homelessness.

Speakers

Derek McGowan, Service Director for Housing and Homelessness at the City of Edinburgh Council
Andrew Leigh, Director for Housing, Liverpool Council
Dr Michael Fortheringham, Managing Director, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AUHRI)
Fiona Caniglia, CEO, QShelter, Australia

See more about our speakers below.

Event Feedback

Resource pack: Tackling the housing and homelessness crisis

Community-led housing in Scotland: policy, practice and the role of the South of Scotland Community Housing

This briefing looks at the role of South of Scotland Community Housing (SOSCH) as a key enabling organisation. Read here

Housing and planning round-up September 2025

The latest round-up of housing and planning reports includes news, government announcements, statistics, major policy reports and open consultations. Keep reading…

Houses in the city of Derry in Northern Ireland

House Hunting: What more could local government do to tackle the Housing Emergency?

Two years after the first Scottish councils declared local housing emergencies, initiatives taken at the local level are having some impact on the shortage of social housing and large numbers in temporary accommodation. Read more

Side view of a grandmother and her granddaughter sitting at the dining table. They are both eating their meal. On the floor next to the little girl there is a pet dog sitting waiting for some food.

Thoughts on housing supply targets in Ireland

Recent efforts to re-energise housing delivery are being driven by the recognition that a clearer view of medium to long-term housing requirements is essential. View here

Homeless persons bed on the streets. Credit: Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash

The fast and the curious: A hypothesis-led approach to tackling the temporary accommodation and homelessness crisis

The Royal Borough of Greenwich’s response to the homelessness and temporary accommodation crisis it faced in 2023. View here

Five years of the Homelessness Reduction Act: has it made a difference?

Written in 2023 this article reviewed the progress of the Homelessness Reduction Act. Is it reducing the rate at which homelessness would otherwise have risen? View here

Homelessness in Scotland

Homelessness is increasing in Scotland as well as other parts of the UK. In spite of efforts made by councils over the past five years, the number of households in temporary accommodation and rough sleepers are continuing to rise. Read the full blog post…

Photo of a man writing on a piece of paper in office space.

About LGIU Training

For nearly 40 years, LGIU has been responding to the training needs of local government. From finance to coaching, we’re bringing your team the professional development it needs to move forward and make a difference. LGIU member organisations enjoy a discount on all LGIU training!

Learn more here or check out all our current live training courses here.

About our speakers

Derek McGowan

Service Director for Housing and

Homelessness at the

City of Edinburgh Council

Andrew Leigh

Director for Housing,

Liverpool Council

Dr Michael Fortheringham

Managing Director, Australian Housing

and Urban Research Institute (AUHRI)

Fiona Caniglia

CEO, QShelter, Australia

About our partners

The LGIU and Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) have been partners on these executive panels since 2020 – bringing practical insights and ideas from chief executives and local authority experts from all over the world. The VLGA is an independent (non-partisan) governance organisation supporting councils and councillors in achieving the highest standards of governance on behalf of their communities. They provide opportunities for councillor networking, professional development and information exchange and actively engage with key policymakers and broader stakeholders to inform, influence and lead the conversations that determine the priorities for the local government sector in Victoria. vlga.org.au | [email protected]

About Future Local Lab

Future Local Lab is a holistic programme of resources to help local government prepare for and respond to the emerging challenges facing the sector internationally. These Executive Panels bring together local government professionals and local elected representatives from the countries that we operate in and beyond. Our aim is to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas, insights and learning and a chance to forge connections across the sector. LGIU and the Victorian Local Government Association (VLGA) are thrilled to gather together senior executives from Ireland, the UK and Australia to explore harmonious decision-making in councils!