Homelessness Reduction Bill inquiry

A key finding of the Committee’s recent report on homelessness was that the services provided to applicants for homeless support are not always adequate. We recognise the financial challenges faced by local authorities, and the increasing pressure that higher levels of homelessness bring. We believe, however, that more should be done to ensure that vulnerable people receive consistently high levels of service across the country. It is for this reason that the Committee supports the Homelessness Reduction Bill, the Private Member’s Bill introduced by Bob Blackman MP, a member of the Committee.

We have scrutinised the draft Bill and made recommendations to help it better achieve its aims. We believe that this report and the evidence we have taken will both improve the Bill and help the House debate its provisions, and that our experience is a model on which other Select Committees and sponsors of Private Member’s Bills can draw.

We have made the following recommendations on the text of the Bill:

Clause 1: Definition of homelessness and threatened homelessness We welcome the extension of the period that someone can be considered to be threatened with homelessness from 28 to 56 days, but we recommend that Clause 1(2) is revised so that it is clear that an applicant for support need not remain in a property where possession proceedings are underway for the local authority to treat such a person as homeless.

Clause 2: Duty of local housing authority to provide advice

We welcome the emphasis the Clause places on services preventing homelessness from occurring, and recommend that those who have experienced, or are at continued risk of, domestic violence and abuse should be included in Clause 2(4).

Clause 3: Mandatory code of practice

We welcome measures to address unacceptable levels of service at some local authorities: a code of practice for local authorities, alongside a clear explanation to applicants of the service levels they should expect to receive, need not be overly prescriptive, and could improve what is now an often hostile process.

Clause 4: Homelessness reduction duties

We welcome the requirement for an assessment and a personal housing plan as a means of providing more effective support for all applicants.

We recommend that the definition of non-cooperation be clarified. We are not convinced that the requirement to secure accommodation for 12 months is workable and recommend that the period be six months, at least initially.