New guidance to make sure local authorities intervene earlier to
help prevent families and individuals becoming homeless in the
first place has been published today (16 October 2017).
The guidance, which is subject to an 8-week consultation,
sets out how local councils should implement the Homelessness Reduction
Act, due to come into effect in April 2018. The new Act
requires councils to provide services to all at risk of becoming
homeless, on top of those with a priority need such as families
with children and those who are vulnerable.
Following further discussions with local authorities in England
on the resources required to implement the Act, the government is
providing an additional £11.7 million in new burdens funding to
local authorities, taking the total amount to £72.7 million. This
additional funding will be shared among local authorities over 2
years to meet the requirements of the Act.
The government will also be providing a share of £3 million to
local authorities to support them in upgrading their data systems
to allow them to assess how the Act is changing homeless
prevention in their areas. This comes on top of the government’s
investment of £550 million until 2020 for homelessness and rough
sleeping.
Minister for Homelessness said:
Tackling homelessness and rough sleeping are complex issues
with no single solution, but this government is determined to
help the most vulnerable in society. That’s why we’re
implementing the most ambitious legislative reform in decades,
the Homelessness Reduction Act.
Local authorities play a vital role in implementing the Act.
Therefore the guidance and government funding will support them
in making sure people will get the help they need earlier to
prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.
The consultation asks for views on the guidance for local
councils as they prepare to undertake their new duties under the
Act, including:
- Making information and advice about homelessness available to
all residents free of charge. This includes advice on preventing
homelessness and securing accommodation, as well as rights under
the Act, and how to access help.
- Tailoring advice to meet the particular needs of vulnerable
groups, including victims of domestic abuse and young adults
leaving care.
- Working collaboratively with people who are homeless or
threatened with homelessness, to agree a personalised housing
plan based on their needs and circumstances. The plan will set
out the ‘reasonable steps’ the local authority and the customer
will take to prevent homelessness or help to secure alternative
housing.
- Providing help to prevent and relieve homelessness for all
eligible applicants, including single people who do not have
‘priority need’, and those who might be considered ‘intentionally
homeless’.
- Securing and helping to secure suitable safe accommodation
for people who are homeless, or helping them to stay in their
current home wherever possible and appropriate.
The 8-week
consultation closes on 11 December 2017.
The Homelessness Code of Guidance has been drafted with the
assistance of a working group of local authorities and other
stakeholders, and the final version will be published in the
spring 2018.
The government is also continuing to fund free training through
the National Housing Advisory
Service, a partnership between Shelter and Citizens Advice,
for local authority staff on the Homelessness Reduction Act up
until April 2018.
