BASILDON Council is planning on buying up to 500 homes to help slash its £3 million a year bill on temporary housing for homeless residents and families.

The council says it's "fundamental" and hopes it will help the shortage of homes and address "the housing crisis head-on."

The Labour-led council is drawing up plans after leader Gavin Callaghan revealed the council was spending millions on housing homeless people in temporary accommodation.

Back in July, he described it as an "absolute travesty" for both vulnerable residents and the council. 

The council leader, who took over after an election in May, insists that spending is a "number one concern in terms of the finance brief."

Adele Brown, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for planning and infrastructure said: "This initiative speaks to something fundamental. When people in Basildon are struggling to find stable, secure housing, it's not just a statistic—it's about families, it's about kids needing a safe place to sleep, and it's about our community looking after its own.

"Basildon Council is committed to addressing the housing crisis head-on. By acquiring up to 500 homes over the next five years, we're making sure that more of our residents have access to the housing they deserve. This isn't just about numbers. It's about providing dignity to those in temporary accommodation and helping them get back on their feet.

"We know the challenges ahead are great, but we've never been a council that shies away from doing what's right. With a clear plan and a deep sense of responsibility to our residents, we will continue to take action to meet the housing needs of our community."

It also comes after new Government data revealed the number of homeless children in Basildon has increased by more than 200 in just four years. The number of homeless children was 665 in March 2020 and then 893 in 2024, with an opposition leader calling for changes to the approach for housing developments and closer working with the county council.