The government is unlikely to return to a policy of councils providing permanent accommodation for homeless people, after a major player in the homelessness lobby changed its stance on the issue
Homelessness organisation Shelter is no longer calling for councils to provide permanent accommodation for the homeless.

In a major policy document out this week, it is recommending that councils should "secure suitable accommodation" for homeless people and "take reasonable steps to prevent the loss of that accommodation".

Its calls represent a shift to its position at the onset of the 1996 Housing Act, when it campaigned for councils to provide permanent housing for the homeless.

Policy officer Matthew Waters said the new approach defined what the charity meant by permanent, and was an attempt to reforge the link between councils' homelessness duty and the provision of "longer term" accommodation.

He said the charity still wanted a permanent home "for the vast majority of people". But provision could be made in the private rented sector, as well as in social housing, provided that it was permanent, sustainable, affordable, stable and complied with minimum standards.

He said: "It's about bringing it down to the individual level and instead of saying "we've got two units in our stock", it requires a much greater understanding of what the individuals' needs are."

"This offers a very good framework for looking at how the housing service can better match the needs of households."

"Shelter hoped other agencies would "opt in" to its vision, which would form part of its case to government over the housing Green Paper" he said.

National Housing Federation policy officer John Bryant said the shift in emphasis marked a "recognition of reality".

He said: "It reflects reality following the 1988 housing act and the Awua judgement."

Shelter's proposals that local authorities should have responsibility for sustainability of tenancies, not merely suitability on the day of letting was a "very positive development", he said.

Chartered Institute of Housing policy officer Merron Simpson said: "There is a consensus among housing organisations that allocations do need to change and focusing solely on need is not always going to bring about the best outcomes. The problem is how to go about changing allocations to make more balanced communities while at the same time meeting need."

Source

Housing Today