Tower Hamlets Council has appointed Jennifer Wynter as its new Director of Homelessness and Housing Options.
Ms Wynter, who brings 37 years’ experience in Local Government to Tower Hamlets, will take up her new role in July.
Ms Wynter, Tower Hamlets Council’s new Director of Homelessness and Housing Options, said:
“I’m really looking forward to working with the different local community and cultural groups in the borough to ensure that we are providing the very best service we can for everyone and that no-one is left underserved.
“People at risk of homelessness are often dealing with many challenges and the need to identify early what support is needed, to bring services together and to then prioritise that support for those who need it most is essential.
“For people with multiple and complex needs, there can sometimes be mistrust towards councils generally, but it is so important to really listen and ensure they are heard, while also ensuring staff too are empowered and properly equipped in their jobs to be able to help and provide a cutting-edge service which Tower Hamlets is committed to achieving.
“The challenges around homelessness facing councils are the same across London, but there is exciting potential in Tower Hamlets to pull on the levers available and make the most of what is already there, such as repurposing underused council properties that could potentially be used as temporary accommodation, keeping the most vulnerable families close to their support networks. I’m really excited to be joining the council and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Ms Wynter joins Tower Hamlets from her role as Assistant Director of Benefits and Homeless Prevention at Hackney Council, ending a twenty-year spell with Tower Hamlets’ neighbouring local authority.
Beginning her career in 1988 as a caseworker at the Department of Health and Social Security, Ms Wynter spent 17 years working for the Benefits Service at Islington Council, before she moved to Lambeth Council and then onto her employment with Hackney Council.
She was seconded to Central Government as a Local Authority Subject Matter Expert for the Department for Work and Pensions in 2013, before returning to Hackney to merge the Benefits and Homeless Prevention functions to create an innovative, joined-up service. Among her other achievements - she led on the acquisition of 900 new units of temporary accommodation, both reducing council costs and improving living standards for homeless households.
David Joyce, Corporate Director for Housing and Regeneration, said:
“In Jennifer we have recruited someone of exceptional quality and a fantastic track record of achievement.
“We’re determined to transform housing services and position Tower Hamlets as a leader in this area and Jennifer’s experience will be invaluable as we continue to invest to prevent homelessness, to better support families experiencing homelessness, to ensure rough sleeping becomes rarer and to improve performance in the way we process housing register applications and homelessness assessments.
“Jennifer will play a key role in supporting our staff to work with local people in need and ensure they get access to the right support at the right time and we are delighted to welcome her to Tower Hamlets.”
Posted on Monday 28th April 2025