Homelessness Reduction Act Member Conference

What's changed and what has stayed the same

Local councils have a duty to provide anyone with advice and information about homelessness and preventing homelessness, free of charge

Same, but it is now stronger

Homeless applications can be made to any department of the local council and expressed in any form (email, letter, in person). As long as the communication seeks accommodation or help in obtaining accommodation and includes details that give the council reason to believe someone might be homeless or at risk of homelessness, this will count as an application

Same

If you are homeless and the council think you are likely to have a 'priority need', they must provide emergency temporary accommodation while they carry out their assessments  

Same

Once they have accepted a homeless application, all decisions by the council must be provided in writing. This includes negative decisions

Same  In all cases letters should be clearly written in plain language, and include information about the right to request a review and the timescales that apply

Local councils have duties to help stop you losing your home, or help you find somewhere to stay if you are homeless. These last for up to 56 days and the council must help you regardless of whether you have a 'priority need' or if they think you have made yourself 'intentionally homeless'

New These are the new 'prevention' and 'relief' duties

New The law enables (but does not require) a housing authority to refer applicants who do not have a local connection to their district to another housing authority where they do have such a connection

New Same Now able to do this with the new relief duty as well as the main housing duty

If the local council owes you a duty, they must assess your case (your circumstances and needs) and develop a personalised plan with the steps both you and the council will take to help you keep or find suitable accommodation

New

The assessment and personalised housing plan must be kept under review The assessment and personalised housing plan must be kept under review. There should be regular contact from the local council to discuss progress and they must let you know if anything changes Did the council establish timescales for reviewing the plan that meets the needs of your client? Are there clear methods to maintain regular contact to update on progress? 

New

If the council is looking to end their duty by offering or helping you find accommodation, it should be suitable and affordable for your situation and needs Did the council establish timescales for reviewing the plan that meets the needs of your client? Are there clear methods to maintain regular contact to update on progress? 

Same

If you meet the 5 criteria (eligible for help, homeless, priority need, local connection, not homeless intentionally) the local council have a duty to provide temporary accommodation until they find you an offer of settled housing

Same  This is just later in the process now and called the 'main housing duty'

If you are unhappy with a decision made by the council, you have a right to request a review of that decision. This is usually required to be within 21 days of receiving the decision. You should be invited to state why you are requesting a review

Same  Although there are now more decisions that you can ask to have reviewed

New Specified public authorities are required to notify a housing authority of service users they consider may be homeless or threatened with homelessness Did the council establish timescales for reviewing the plan that meets the needs of your client? Are there clear methods to maintain regular contact to update on progress? 

New New

Approaching your council

What if they aren't doing what they should

Decisions that you can ask to be reviewed by the local council Your 'eligibility' to receive help based on your immigration status What duty (if any) is owed to you The steps the council are taking in the personalised housing plan If they give notice they are bringing the prevention or relief duty to an end, including where they believe you have 'deliberately and unreasonably refused' to cooperate with your steps in the plan When they want to refer you to another council because you do not have a 'local connection' with them The suitability of accommodation offered to you. You can request a review of the suitability of accommodation whether or not you have accepted the offer  - Written representations within 2 weeks  - Must notify in writing decisions and reason why INDEPENDENT [FREE] LEGAL ADVICE – Legal aid, Crisis, Shelter, Citizens Advice,  etc.  - Dissatisfied with the decision on a review -  right of appeal on a point of law to the county court within 21 days (the county court is empowered to make an order confirming, quashing or varying the housing authority’s decision as it thinks fit)  - May complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (review and complain procedure first)

Help with the 5

An open and welcoming office

We want the service to be accessible to all people using the service

We want to know about your services (and other support services) in a way we understand

We want to be spoken to with courtesy and respect

We want clear communication that meets our communication needs

We want to know our rights and see a transparent process

We want more joined up work

We want a quick as possible decision time

Member involvement at local councils Peer research, quality assurance and monitoring - trained to help the organisation improve services through research/evaluation, mystery shopping, focus groups, telephone/face-to-face surveys, attending team meetings, commenting on draft reports or consultations etc. Forums or panels - a group come together to discuss a specific topic or policy. Can be used as part of the council’s consultation process Attending meetings or events - can speak or help to facilitate workshops at events or at external conferences Training and support - can deliver training to staff and to peers. Offer support to others using the service or represent them through mentoring or buddy schemes Recruitment - involved in the selection and recruitment of staff Governance - sit on governance boards or management committees Co-delivery - part of the delivery of the service as volunteers, or as peer supporters working alongside staff, helping develop information and materials Most likely to engage