Helping people at risk of homelessness

Organisations must tell us if someone might become homeless within 56 days. It is known as 'duty to refer' This rule, part of the 2018 Homelessness Reduction Act, helps us support people before they lose their home.

Before somebody is referred to us, they must give their consent, and be happy to have their contact details shared with us. They can then choose any housing authority in England to be referred to.

We can take referrals from any agency including:

• prisons
• youth offender institutions
• secure training centres
• secure colleges
• youth offending teams
• probation services, including rehabilitation companies
• Jobcentre Plus
• social service authorities
• emergency departments
• urgent treatment centres
• hospitals in their function of providing in-patient care

Read the guide to the duty to refer on the Government website.

We will work with partner agencies at the earliest opportunity to manage the case.

How to refer someone

To refer someone, send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

• Name.
• Date of birth.
• Contact details including telephone number, email address and postal address.
• A brief description of the customer’s housing circumstances including the reason that they are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

If the public service is a Prison or the Probation Service and they have an offender who is homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, there is a separate Offender Pathway in place. Please email [email protected] in the first instance and the specific referral form can be provided along with initial advice.

What happens next?

The customer will be contacted directly about their housing circumstances.