Homeless - policy
Each country in the United Kingdom is pursuing social inclusion policies. We will ensure that you know which policies are operating where you work and also include key reports and legislation that have informed the policy.
Government departments and other national bodies are arranged in alphabetical order, items which are dated are arranged chronologically with the most recent first.
You might also like to refer to the guidance and agencies and communities sections for further information on homeless people.
The resources below were last accessed on 2 April 2013. Some of them are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.
Within each country section the resources are arranged in alphabetical order of organisation.
England
Broadway and National Centre for Social Research (2009) Profiling London's rough sleepers: a longitudinal analysis of CHAIN data
This study, based on the Combined Homeless And Information Network (CHAIN) database managed by Broadway, is an analysis of the data collected about rough sleeping in London since the late 1990s.
Cabinet Office (2010) Inclusion health
‘Inclusion Health: Improving the way we meet the primary healthcare needs of the socially excluded’ was developed through a joint project between the Social Exclusion Task Force and the Department of Health and provided a framework for action in improving the health outcomes for socially excluded groups. It is underpinned by an evidence pack which brings together analysis on the primary health care needs of the socially excluded and highlights the case for change.
Department for Communities and Local Government: Ministerial working group on preventing and tackling homelessness
The aim of the Ministerial Working Group is "to prevent and reduce homelessness, and improve the lives of those people who do become homeless". The intention is that through getting relevant Government departments together to share information, resolve issues and avoid unintended policy consequences communities will be helped to tackle the multi-faceted issues that contribute to homelessness.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2012) Making every contact count: a joint approach to preventing homelessness
The first report of the Working Group focused on ending rough sleeping - Vision to end rough sleeping. In their second report, Making every contact count: a joint approach to preventing homelessness, the Working Group Communities focuses on preventing homelessness. See below for details of these reports.
The second report of the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness looks at how services can be managed in a way that prevents all households, regardless of whether they are families, couples or single people, from reaching a crisis point where they are faced with homelessness. The report presents a series of commitments: tackling troubled childhoods and adolescence; improving health; reducing involvement in crime; improving access to financial advice, skills and employment services; pioneering innovative social funding mechanisms for homelessness. It also presents ten local challenges for local authorities which if adopted "could lead to all local homelessness services meeting the standards of the best".
Department of Health (2012) Commitments announced on preventing homelessness. Outlines the commitments made by the Department in this report.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2011) Vision to end rough sleeping: No Second Night Out nationwide
This document has been produced by the Ministerial Working Group on Homelessness which brings together eight Government departments to tackle the complex causes of homelessness which include housing, health, work and training. The document makes six commitments to tackle homelessness and support local authorities and voluntary groups to achieve this. The six commitments are: helping people off the street; helping people to access healthcare; helping people into work; reducing bureaucratic burdens; increasing local control over investment in services; devolving responsibility for tackling homelessness. The No Second Night Out project was launched in London in April 2011 as part of the work being done by the Mayor’s London Delivery Board.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2008) No One Left Out - Communities ending rough sleeping (PDF 1.0MB)
This strategy presents the then government's 15-point action plan which was designed to end rough sleeping in England by 2012.
Department for Communities and Local Government (2007) Framework for planning and commissioning of services related to health needs of homeless people
The aim of this framework is to enable agencies to address the health needs of people who are homeless or living in temporary or insecure accommodation by means of joint planning, and where appropriate joint commissioning of services.
National Audit Office (2005) More than a roof: progress in tackling homelessness
This report examines the work of the Homelessness and Housing Support Directorate within the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and looks at what has been achieved on key Government homelessness targets.
Legislation
Housing Act 1996
Part VII specifically covers homelessness, eligibility for assistance and local authority duties to provide accommodation in England and Wales.
Homelessness Act 2002
Makes further provision about the functions of local housing authorities relating to homelessness and the allocation of housing accommodation.
For an overview of relevant legisltation see also Homeless Link: Homelessness legislation and also information from Crisis about the English legislative framework.
Northern Ireland
Department for Social Development: Promoting Social Inclusion
"Under the Promoting Social Inclusion initiative, the Department for Social Development has taken the lead on a cross-departmental and cross-sectoral review of the problems encountered by people who are homeless".
Department for Social Development (2007) Including the homeless: a strategy to promote the social inclusion of homeless people and those at risk of becoming homeless in Northern Ireland
Presents the vision, values, aims and objectives of the strategy, the guiding principles and action plan, and implementation arrangements.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Homelessness
Advice on what to do to avoid becoming homeless and help available for those who are homeless.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Supporting People Programme
The programme, introduced in Northern Ireland in April 2003, funds a range of services which provide housing related support to vulnerable people to improve their quality of life and attain independence.
Northern Ireland Housing Executive (2012) Homelessness strategy for Northern Ireland 2012-2017
This sets out the Northern Ireland Housing Executive strategy for tackling homelessness over a five year period and establishes the guiding principles for the development and delivery of homelessness services. The aim of the strategy is that long term homelessness and rough sleeping is eliminated across Northern Ireland by 2020. The strategy recognises the importance of an integrated approach through collaboration between a wide range of partners from the statutory, voluntary and community sectors. This will be facilitated by the Promoting Social Inclusion Partnership. The document details the four strategic objectives and what needs to be done to achieve these. An implementation plan is to be published which will include the performance indicators which will be used to monitor progress.
Legislation
The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 2003
The Act covers many aspects of housing and includes sections relevant to homelessness.
The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988
The Act includes definitions of homelessness. It covers statutory duties to homeless people and those threatened with homelessness and the financial and other assistance for voluntary organisations concerned with homelessness.
Scotland
Scottish Government: 2012 Homelessness target
"The Scottish Government, with its partners in the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) is committed to Scotland's homelessness target of insuring that all unintentionally homeless households have a right to settled accommodation by the end of 2012". This will have the result of increasing the rights of homeless people.
Scottish Government (2008) Helping homeless people: Homelessness Monitoring Group Report - March 2008
The Homeless Monitoring Group was formed in 2007 part of its remit being to assess progress against the five top-level outcomes for homelessness reported on by local authorities.
Scottish Executive (2005) Code of guidance on homelessness
Guidance on legislation, policies and practices to prevent and resolve homelessness.
Scottish Executive (2005) Health and homelessness standards
Standards and performance requirements for NHS Boards in support of the planning and provision of services for homeless people.
Legislation
Key acts are:
Scottish Government (2009) Helping homeless people
Leaflet publicising the commencement of section 11 of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003 in April 2009.
The Homeless Persons (Unsuitable Accommodation) (Scotland) Order 2004
Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003
Homeless persons legislation in Scotland
This gives detailed information about applications to local authorities for assistance under homelessness legislation covering the period April to September 2010.
Wales
Welsh Government (2009) Ten year homelessness plan for Wales 2009 - 2019
The ten year plan sets out some guiding principles for the development and delivery of homelessness services and, as a working document, will be subject to continuous review in the light of social and economic circumstances. The underlying strategic aims are: preventing homelessness wherever possible; working across organisational and policy boundaries; placing the service user at the centre of service delivery; ensuring social inclusion and equality of access to services; making the best use of resources.
Welsh Assembly Government (2009) Improving the health and well-being of homeless and specific vulnerable groups: standards 2009/2014
This document, which includes standards and guidance, is intended to help with the development of Homeless People and Vulnerable Groups’ Health Action Plans (HaVGHAPs) in every local area. The specific vulnerable groups identified are the homeless, asylum seekers and refugees, Gypsies and Travellers and EU migrants who are homeless. The standards are supported by a Service Level Agreement between Public Health Wales and Cymorth Cymru which is the representative body for providers of housing related support, homelessness and supported living in Wales.
Welsh Assembly Government (2005) National homeless strategy for Wales 2006-2008
This strategy builds upon the strategy first published in 2003. It is set out a vision and objectives and targets, and provides a detailed action plan. The emphasis is on cross sector engagement including health, social services and education.
Legislation
Housing Act 1996
Part VII specifically covers homelessness, eligibility for assistance and local authority duties to provide accommodation in England and Wales.
Homelessness Act 2002
Makes further provision about the functions of local housing authorities relating to homelessness and the allocation of housing accommodation.
The Homeless Persons (Priority Need) (Wales) Order 2001
Defines different categories of priority need. See also Welsh Government: Guidance to extend categories of homeless people who are regarded as being in priority need.