Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities: consultation

The government is committed to preventing and reducing homelessness, and to no one ever having to spend a night on the streets. That is why we are implementing the most ambitious legislative reform in decades, the Homelessness Reduction Act, which will commence in April 2018.

The Act is designed to significantly reform England’s homelessness legislation by placing duties on local authorities to intervene at earlier stages to prevent homelessness in their areas. It also requires local authorities to provide homelessness assistance to all those affected, not just those who are protected under existing legislation.

As part of the Act’s implementation the government is revising the existing statutory code of guidance. This will provide updated guidance to local authorities on how they should exercise their homelessness functions and apply the legislation in practice.

This consultation seeks views on the proposed revised homelessness code of guidance.