Briefing: Accommodating street homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic

On 11 March 2021, the High Court ruled in the case of Ncube v Brighton and Hove City Council that councils can lawfully provide accommodation to street homeless people during the pandemic, even when they are not eligible for homelessness assistance under Part
7 of the Housing Act 1996.

This is a landmark ruling with major and immediate implications for councils during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. It is Shelter’s view that this judgment is applicable for the duration of the pandemic, as determined by the World Health Organisation.

This briefing has been prepared by Shelter's legal and policy team for local authorities during the pandemic.