West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals West London DV Reciprocals Agreement Lewisham Town Hall 15 th December 2005

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Context DV a significant cause of homelessness People fleeing DV have the right to approach any borough Prevention is to be preferred where possible – e.g. action against perpetrator, sanctuary schemes Best practice is for social housing tenants to transfer rather than be housed through HPUs Boroughs pushing applicants from pillar to post If accepted, social housing tenancies lost and periods spent in TA unnecessarily

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Barriers to co-operation No Mechanism Suspicion Fear of losing out No habit of co-operation in this way Differences in practice (e.g. on assessment)

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Assets for co-operation LOCATA (all West London boroughs except RBKC) WL Homelessness Group WL Allocations Group WL Homelessness Co-ordinator Borough willing to champion this area (Harrow)

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals DV Survey Jan to March 2005

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals

How we did it Sub-group of West London Homelessness Group drew up initial document Agreed by WL Homelessness Group Not Agreed by WL Allocations Group Sub-group of both groups agreed limited document as pilot. Boroughs informed staff and pilot launched August 1 st for Council tenants only To be reviewed and hopefully extended in February

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Principles of current agreement For Council tenants who are: either living in Borough A and approach Borough A or living in Borough A and approach Borough B Cannot safely remain in Borough A Could live in Borough B Borough approached leads on case (no bouncing of client) Co-operation on assessment but done as management transfer, not Part VII

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Principles of current agreement (cont) If accepted, can go into emergency accommodation, Borough B, and Borough A recharged High Priority to bid on Borough B’s list (if don’t bid, direct offer can be made after reasonable period) When housed, Borough A offer Borough B a like for like property to be put onto Borough B’s list Dependant on goodwill to work, but allocations group can resolve differences if needs be

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Areas of extension? Bring in RSLs Could be extended pan London for council tenants Out of borough TA placements Access to private sector in other boroughs

West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals