These strategies should address all forms of homelessness and be updated annually.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government is responsible for homelessness policy in England, with devolved administrations handling it in other regions. The Homelessness Act 2002 mandates local housing authorities to create and update homelessness strategies every five years, focusing on prevention and support for all forms of homelessness. The Ministry aims to increase scrutiny of these strategies, requiring them to be updated annually. This follows previous requests for the homelessness strategies to be renamed to include rough sleeping, made available online, and submitted for review.
Local housing authorities are required to oversee homelessness strategies, which should involve collaboration with social services, private housing providers, and other relevant organisations. These strategies aim to provide stronger protection for vulnerable individuals, improve services for the homeless, and address the root causes of homelessness. While there is no legal requirement for specific forums to coordinate homelessness activities, many areas already have successful forums, and the establishment of a Homelessness Reduction Board can further enhance collaboration.
Local housing authorities should collaborate with social services authorities to develop a homelessness strategy, adapting to new legislation and emphasising accountability. Private registered providers of social housing are encouraged to assist in this process. Public authorities, voluntary organisations, and other stakeholders are also invited to contribute to the strategy’s development and implementation.
Local authorities must conduct a homelessness review to evaluate the current situation and formulate a strategy. This involves analysing homelessness levels, prevention activities, accommodation provision, support services, and available resources. The strategy should address all forms of homelessness, including street, hidden, and those at risk of becoming homeless.
A homelessness review should examine local arrangements for preventing and relieving homelessness, including the effectiveness of the ‘duty to refer’ and the impact of the Homelessness Reduction Act. It should also assess the support provided to prevent homelessness recurrence, focusing on the quality and impact of community-wide and accommodation-based support. Additionally, the review should evaluate the effectiveness of securing accommodation for homeless individuals, considering factors like temporary accommodation provision, social housing allocations, and private rented sector accessibility.
Local housing authorities should review resource allocation, including funding, staffing, and IT, to effectively tackle homelessness. A homelessness strategy should be formulated with clear objectives and action plans, involving relevant organisations and addressing the needs of vulnerable groups.
A homelessness strategy should outline actions for various stakeholders, including local housing authorities, social service authorities, and private registered providers, to address homelessness. This includes preventing homelessness, providing advice and support, and increasing housing supply. Local housing authorities must consider statutory guidance, housing allocation schemes, and engage in consultation when developing their strategies.
A homelessness strategy should consider tenancy types and durations, incorporating findings from homelessness reviews and aligning with local and national priorities.
A multi-agency approach is crucial for tackling homelessness. This involves steering groups, task & finish groups, forums, and casework action groups, with input from various stakeholders including public authorities, voluntary organisations, and individuals with lived experience. Accountability structures involve elected councillors, with decision-making and scrutiny roles, supported by training and briefing notes.
Local housing authorities in the UK are required to publish a homelessness strategy every five years, outlining actions to address homelessness in their area. These strategies should be published online and updated annually to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, or local circumstances. The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government encourages consultation with stakeholders and the public during the development and review process.
The Local Government Association published guidance on making homelessness strategies happen, written and researched by Neil Morland & Co Housing Consultants. To view the guidance and associated resources, click here.
