Homelessness: Temporary Accommodation
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what guidance his Department provides to (a) local authorities and (b) London boroughs providing temporary accommodation to those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness (i) outside their local authority area and (ii) outside London on whether the support of the external local authority in which they are housed is (1) required or (2) encouraged.
Answered by Alison McGovern
Legislation and statutory guidance is clear that local authorities should, wherever possible, place homeless households within their own area. However, in some areas where there is a limited supply of suitable accommodation, it is sometimes necessary to place households in temporary accommodation outside the local area. This should be as near as possible to the original placing local authority.
As set out in the National Plan to End Homelessness, we are actively engaging with stakeholders to address poor practice, clarify what is suitable and make expectations on sending and receiving councils clear.
The Homelessness Code of Guidance is clear that authorities should take into account the medical facilities and other support currently provided to a household, and whether similar facilities are accessible and available near the accommodation. Authorities receiving out of area placements must be notified in accordance with s208 Housing Act 1996. This should involve engagement with the receiving authority to minimise disruption to health services, education and vital support networks.
On Monday 22 June we provided detailed information on action the government is taking to improve the quality and experience for those in temporary accommodation in a Written Ministerial Statement alongside our full response to the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee report on housing conditions in temporary accommodation.
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