Thinktank calls for stronger duty for RPs to house homeless people referred by councils

The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has called for stronger duties on registered providers in England to house homeless people referred by local authorities.

The thinktank, in a new report called Homes Truths: Housing-led approaches to homelessness, called for a strengthening of the duty to co-operate.

It said: “The registered providers we spoke to were committed to the principles of housing-led approaches, but some of the frontline providers suggested that in their experience, some RPs can be reluctant to accept formerly homelessness tenants.”

It said the current Housing Act 1996 requires providers to co-operate to “such extent as is reasonable in the circumstances” which therefore gives them discretion over whether to accept allocations. It said however that in Scotland a Registered Social Landlord can only refuse if they are not able to make a property available within a given timeframe, or they do not have a suitable property. It suggested this model could be rolled out in England.

It said: ”To further support housing-led approaches, the whole system must work together. This incudes national, local and regional government, but must also involve housing associations. ”

The IPPR report also said mayors should use their strategic planning powers to set “ambitious” section 106 targets for social housing and nominations requirements for new developments and said they should “use their convening powers to bring together interdisciplinary teams from across their constituent local authorities. “

It calls on national government to establish a rough sleeping strategy delivery unit, to coordinate action, set ambitious targets on reducing rough sleeping and support local leaders in their delivery. It said government should roll-out a scheme that learns from Greater Manchester’s A Bed Every Night (ABEN) programme to tackle rough sleeping across the country. It also called for a programme to bring empty homes back into use for temporary accommodation and housing led interventions.