{"id":85386,"date":"2017-10-16T14:58:00","date_gmt":"2017-10-16T14:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=13690688d8ae35da2ed590e610d85b3e"},"modified":"2017-10-16T14:58:00","modified_gmt":"2017-10-16T14:58:00","slug":"press-release-government-actions-a-further-step-in-homeless-prevention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=85386","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Government actions a further step in homeless prevention"},"content":{"rendered":"
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New guidance to make sure local authorities intervene earlier to help prevent families and individuals becoming homeless in the first place has been published today (16 October 2017).<\/p>\n

The guidance, which is subject to an 8-week consultation<\/a>, sets out how local councils should implement the Homelessness Reduction Act<\/a>, due to come into effect in April 2018. The new Act requires councils to provide services to all at risk of becoming homeless, on top of those with a priority need such as families with children and those who are vulnerable.<\/p>\n

Following further discussions with local authorities in England on the resources required to implement the Act, the government is providing an additional \u00a311.7 million in new burdens funding to local authorities, taking the total amount to \u00a372.7 million. This additional funding will be shared among local authorities over 2 years to meet the requirements of the Act.<\/p>\n

The government will also be providing a share of \u00a33 million to local authorities to support them in upgrading their data systems to allow them to assess how the Act is changing homeless prevention in their areas. This comes on top of the government\u2019s investment of \u00a3550 million until 2020 for homelessness and rough sleeping.<\/p>\n

Minister for Homelessness Marcus Jones said:<\/p>\n

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Tackling homelessness and rough sleeping are complex issues with no single solution, but this government is determined to help the most vulnerable in society. That\u2019s why we\u2019re implementing the most ambitious legislative reform in decades, the Homelessness Reduction Act.<\/p>\n

Local authorities play a vital role in implementing the Act. Therefore the guidance and government funding will support them in making sure people will get the help they need earlier to prevent them becoming homeless in the first place.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The consultation asks for views on the guidance for local councils as they prepare to undertake their new duties under the Act, including:<\/p>\n