Homelessness: Health Services
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to ensure people experiencing homelessness can access mental health and addiction support when they are placed in accommodation outside of their local authority area.
Answered by Alison McGovern
The cross-government National Plan to End Homelessness makes clear that councils should, wherever possible, place households within their own area, except where there are clear benefits for the person seeking assistance (for example, in cases of domestic abuse). Any placements out of area should minimise disruption to essential services, particularly health services including mental health and addiction support, as well as education and wider support networks.
Placing authorities must notify receiving areas under Section 208 of the Housing Act 1996, enabling engagement with local services to help ensure continuity of support for households placed out of area.
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