Birmingham to convert ex-university halls in struggle with homelessness

Oscott Gardens will provide temporary accommodation for up to 300 families as council faces soaring demand for housing

The sprawling 419-bed Oscott Gardens in north Birmingham was once home to hundreds of first-year university students. From January, however, in a first-of-its-kind project for the city, the student halls will become temporary accommodation for homeless families as the council buckles under the strain of a national housing crisis.

We're seeing around 300 families a month present to us as homeless, enough to fill a whole tower block," said Sharon Thompson, Birmingham city council's cabinet member for vulnerable children, families and homelessness. Having been a councillor since 2014, I've never seen local communities hit in the way they are at the moment."