Vulnerable homeless adults could be housed by local authorities

 

A Judgement of the Supreme Court given on 13 May 2013 has raised hopes that vulnerable homeless people currently denied access to social housing will now be housed. Prior to the Judgement in Kanu v LB Southwark [2015] UKSC 30, people applying to be housed under the homelessness legislation had to demonstrate that they were vulnerable when compared to the ordinary homeless person in order to qualify to be housed. Following the Judgement, applicants now only have to demonstrate that they are vulnerable when compared to the ordinary person if made homeless. This means that many homeless people suffering with mental health issues such as Anxiety, Depression or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or physical health issues such as Diabetes or mobility problems, who would previously not have qualified to be housed by local authorities, could be entitled to accommodation.

It is currently unclear how local authorities will provide the extra accommodation needed, with the housing stock already stretched to the limit in many areas. In 2012 over 1.8 million people were assessed as needing social housing and placed on the waiting list accordingly. By 2014 this had been reduced to just over 1.3 million people, primarily by local authorities introducing stricter criteria backed by the government rather than the housing need being met. In the current climate, with the government announcing plans to introduce the right to buy for housing association tenants, it is unlikely that the increased demand for social housing resulting from this decision will be met by an increased supply of social housing. The more likely response to this judgement will be for the government to legislate as soon as possible to prevent vulnerable homeless people from accessing social housing, with local authorities making increased use of gate-keeping tactics to prevent homelessness applications from being processed whilst the new legislation is prepared.

Vulnerable homeless people are encouraged to make homelessness applications without delay to ensure they take advantage of the opportunity to access social housing. 

Written on 05/06/2015 by Blavo & CO's Adrian Smith