Paul Walter wrote about the Temporary accommodation debate in his diary earlier

It was a great and sobering debate.

I just wanted to highlight two things that Lib Dems have done. Prue Bray spoke about what her Council in Wokingham has done to reduce the numbers of people in temporary accommodation and to make it a lot safer for those who are.

She said:

Temporary accommodation is a subject that could drive us to despair, but I want to give you some hope by telling you how a Lib Dem council is making a real difference. I am really proud of what we have done about temporary accommodation and social housing in Wokingham Borough, and even more proud of what we are planning to do next.

We have put in a lot of work. As of August we have only 91 households in temporary accommodation, of which 56 are families. What’s more, 94% of that temporary accommodation is local to us, and nearly all of it is owned by the council itself. We still have our own council houses and we have 2 housing companies, focused on delivering affordable housing. We have used both mechanisms to create temporary accommodation. New modular units attached to a mobile home park. A converted hotel. Units that are available due to a large scale social housing redevelopment. Having our own temporary accommodation means we can ensure it is all good quality and well-managed. But it also means that we are not haemorrhaging money to private landlords to pay for sub-standard, unsafe accommodation a long way away.

There’s more. With support from Homes England, we have created good quality HMOs and supported living accommodation for care leavers and we have given them a high priority on our housing register so that they can move on into their forever homes. And our tenancy sustainment offer that we wrap around them means they pay their rent on time and are well supported.

But we still have a long list of people waiting to be permanently housed. So next Thursday we are set to approve a new flagship policy – a £24 million Council Housing Acquisition & Investment Programme, to create more social housing in our borough through buying existing properties. Our aim is to eliminate the waiting list for people who have the highest housing need. By acquiring existing properties we can deliver homes much more quickly than by relying solely on building new ones. Families with 3 or 4 children often can’t get out of temporary accommodation because there are no larger properties for them to move into. We can fix that by buying properties to meet their need.

There is much more I could add. I am really proud of what we are doing in Wokingham. We are determined to provide a decent safe home for all our children. That’s what every child deserves. Please support this motion, and the amendments. And I just wanted to add that in her speech Hina talked about people with No Recourse to Public Funds. The fact that such a thing exists is an indictment of this country and we should be ashamed.

It just shows how Lib Dem councils get things done. And her point about No Recourse to Public Funds at the end was incredibly well made. That policy is an utter disgrace. Effectively it means that people on some visas are not allowed to have any help from the state in any circumstances. Prue is right. We should be ashamed.

One speech that wasn’t made in the debate was that of Donna Harris, chair of the official organisation representing women in the Lib Dems. She was down to summate the amendment but didn’t get to speak because nobody opposed it. Donna Harris stood down as a Councillor in May but she would have talked about a constituent she helped. She’s let us see what she would have said. It had me in tears when I read it. Up and down the country Lib Dem elected members are putting their hearts and souls into getting results for people.

Conference, despite Awaab’s Law, imagine a young mother is living in damp and mould ridden flat with a newborn baby with a life-threatening illness, as well as her toddler. For almost a year, I advocated for this mother and her children. And just before I stepped down as a councillor in Lambeth, we finally succeeded in securing an offer of a new home.

This is what she wrote to me:

“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for standing by me through such a long, emotional journey and for fighting to make sure my voice was heard.
The effort, compassion, and genuine care you’ve shown have meant more to me than words can truly express. You took the time to listen, to understand my situation, and to act when I felt like no one else would.

For years, I’ve been struggling in overcrowded and difficult living conditions that affected not only me but my children’s health and wellbeing. There were times I felt completely hopeless and unseen — but your involvement changed that. You gave me hope again.
You showed me that there are still people who truly care about helping others, not just because it’s their job, but because they have a heart.
When I received the news about a new place, I honestly became emotional. It felt like such a huge weight had finally been lifted off my shoulders.

I thought about every late night I’d cried, every time I felt I had to fight alone, and how your hard work had helped turn all of that pain into relief and gratitude.

Knowing that my children will now have a proper home — one that’s safe, comfortable, and healthy — is the greatest blessing I could ever ask for.

Your persistence and advocacy have made a real difference in our lives. You went above and beyond, ensuring my case wasn’t ignored, and I’ll never forget that.”

Conference, please really hear those words:
“There were times I felt completely hopeless and unseen.”

This is what housing insecurity can mean for a family.

That is why we, as Liberal Democrats matter, because we do really care.

We believe everyone deserves a safe, warm home. When someone is at their most vulnerable, we don’t simply point them towards a process and walk away.

We listen. We advocate. We stand alongside them.

Because this isn’t just about housing. It is about children being safe, mothers having hope, and families being given the chance to begin again.

* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social