Local authority homelessness strategies

Every local authority must:[1]

• carry out a homelessness review

• formulate and publish a homelessness strategy based on that review

Social services must give such assistance as is reasonably required.[2] Both the housing authority and the social services authority must take the homelessness strategy into account when carrying out their functions.[3]

All authorities are required to publish homelessness strategies at least once every five years. Local authorities classified as excellent were exempt from this requirement before 1 April 2017.[4]

Local authorities must periodically assess the accommodation needs of people in their area. This includes those with a need for caravan sites or mooring for houseboats.[5]

The homelessness review is an assessment by the local housing authority of the levels and future levels of homelessness in its district. They must also assess activities which are carried out to:[6]

• prevent homelessness

• ensure accommodation is available for people who are or may become homeless

• provide support for people who are or may become homeless, or who need support to prevent them becoming homeless again

The review needs to take account of the resources available to the local housing authority, the local social services authority, other public authorities, voluntary organisations and any other people who carry out or contribute to these activities.

Once the review is completed, the results must be made available for public inspection without charge, and copies made available on payment of a reasonable charge.

The homelessness strategy is a strategy for:[7]

• preventing homelessness

• securing that sufficient accommodation (of a range of types) is available for people who are or may become homeless

• providing satisfactory support for people who are or may become homeless, or who need support to prevent them becoming homeless again

The strategy must consider how the local housing authority and social services authority, any other public authority, voluntary organisation or anyone else can meet the objectives of the strategy. It may include specific actions or objectives to be undertaken by the local housing and social services authority, or, with its agreement, by any other public authority, voluntary organisation or anyone else.

The authority must consider the needs of all groups of people in its area who may be affected by homelessness, including Gypsies and Travellers.

The local housing authority must keep the strategy under review. Before adopting or modifying the strategy the local housing authority must consult any public or voluntary organisations or other persons, as it considers appropriate. Further, when formulating or modifying its strategy the authority must have regard to:[8]

• its allocation scheme

• its tenancy strategy

• (London boroughs only) the London housing strategy

Authorities should take into account the prevention and relief duties brought in by the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.[9] An authority should attempt to understand the causes of homelessness in its district, and establish links with service providers who have early contact with people at risk of becoming homeless, as well with those who provide accommodation and/or support.[10]

Once the strategy is completed, it must be made available for public inspection without charge, and copies made available on payment of a reasonable charge.

From 1 October 2021 every relevant local authority must assess the need for accommodation-based support in its area for victims of domestic abuse and their children. The authority must also prepare and publish a strategy for providing this support, and monitor its effectiveness.[11]

The first strategy must be published by 5 January 2022.[12]

This duty does not form part of the homelessness duties but may be relevant where a homeless applicant has experienced domestic abuse.

The relevant local authority is defined as:[13]

• a county council

• a district council for an area for which there is no county council

• the Greater London Authority

• the Council of the Isles of Scilly

Relevant accommodation

Accommodation-based support means support provided in:[14]

• housing provided by a local housing authority, a private registered provider of social housing or a registered charity whose objects include the provision of support to victims of domestic abuse

• refuge accommodation

• specialist safe accommodation

• dispersed accommodation

• second stage accommodation

• accommodation which is part of a sanctuary scheme

• other accommodation designated by the local housing authority, private registered provider of social housing or registered charity as domestic abuse emergency accommodation

Bed and breakfast accommodation is excluded, unless it is owned or managed by local housing authority, a non-profit registered provider of social housing or a voluntary organisation.[15]

Meaning of accommodation-based support

Accommodation-based support includes:[16]

• advocacy support, for example development of personal safety plans and liaising with other services such as GPs, social workers and welfare benefit agencies

• domestic abuse prevention advice, such as support to assist victims to recognise the signs of abusive relationships, to help them remain safe (including online), and to prevent re-victimisation

• specialist support for victims , for example faith services, translators and interpreters, immigration advice, interpreters for victims identifying as deaf or hard of hearing, and LGBTQ+ victims

• support designed for victims with additional or complex needs

• support for children, for example play therapy, child advocacy or a specialist children worker

• housing-related support, for example advice and assistance on housing rights and obtaining accommodation

• advice services, for example advice on financial and legal issues, benefits, support into work

• counselling and therapy

For detailed information see the statutory guidance on the delivery of support to victims of domestic abuse.

Preparing a strategy

When preparing a domestic abuse strategy, a local authority must have regard to the relevant statutory guidance and the authority's functions in respect of:[17]

• housing and homelessness reduction

• violence against women and girls

• supporting families

• community safety

• victims of crime

• modern slavery

• safeguarding

The authority must also assess whether the need for accommodation-based support might have changed since the previous strategy was prepared.[18]

Domestic abuse local partnership boards

Domestic abuse partnership boards are tasked with advising local authorities about the provision of support for survivors of domestic abuse. Each local authority must appoint a domestic abuse partnership board.[19]

Domestic abuse partnership board consists of a representative of the local authority and at least one person to represent the interest of:

• local authorities for areas within the authority’s area, for example district councils

• victims of domestic abuse

• children of domestic abuse victims

• charities and other voluntary organisations that work with victims of domestic abuse

• at least one person persons who provide, or have functions relating to, health care services

• persons with functions relating to policing or criminal justice

The purpose of the local partnership boards is to inform the process of setting up the strategy. For detailed information see section B2 of the relevant statutory guidance.

Consultation with relevant bodies

Local authorities are required to consult the following bodies before publishing a strategy:[20]

• the domestic abuse local partnership board

• any local authority within their area

• any other person the local authority considers appropriate

Publishing a strategy

The first domestic abuse strategy must be published before 5 January 2022.[21]

A strategy must be reviewed every three years and published every time it is altered.[22]

A draft strategy must be published at least 10 weeks before the intended date of the publication.[23]

Local authorities must produce yearly reports for the central government and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner.[24]