Current consultations

When Homeless Link responds to government consultations, we respond as one voice that reflects the views and vast experience of our members. Here you can find out about the latest consultations we are responding to as well as consultations of interest. We welcome additional contributions to these responses from members.

To respond to a consultation that Homeless Link is submitting please email Helen Mathie in Homeless Link's Policy team, or come along to our next Policy Forum, if you are a Homeless Link member.

Current Consultations

JSNAs and joint health and wellbeing strategies

The Department of Health has issued guidance to support health and wellbeing boards and
their partners in undertaking Joint Strategic Needs Assessments (JSNAs) and joint health and wellbeing strategies. These local processes will identify health and wellbeing priorities in each area and set committments for how these will be addressed. It is seeking views on the guidance by Friday 17th February.

Our JSNA page gives background on JSNAs and why it is vital that homeless people's needs are taken into account. It is also important that the JSNA process meaningfully involves local providers and service users so that their views are incorporated. This consultation offers an opportunity to comment on the guidance and highlight some of these messages.

To discuss the guidance or JSNAs, please contact our policy team

ALLOCATION OF ACCOMMODATION: GUIDANCE FOR LOCAL HOUSING AUTHORITIES IN ENGLAND

"The Government is consulting on new draft statutory guidance on social housing allocations for local authorities in England. The new guidance is intended to assist authorities to take advantage of the provisions in the Localism Act 2011 which give back to local authorities the freedom to manage their own waiting lists, and make it easier for them to move existing social tenants to more suitable accommodation. It also encourages authorities to make use of the existing flexibilities within the allocation legislation to ensure that social homes go to people who need and deserve them the most."

Homeless Link believes that social housing has become a 'precious resource' due to scarcity resulting from our current housing crisis. We have concerns about plans to solve housing shortages through restrictive allocations procedures. We believe that everyone has the right to a roof over their head and would like to see local authorities adopt an allocations system that affords reasonable preference to non priority single homeless applicants.

You can view the complete consultation document on the Department for Communities and Local Government website.

If you'd like to share your views, please contact Helen Mathie

A revised regulatory framework for social housing in England from April 2012

The social housing regulator is seeking views from across the sector on significant changes to its regulatory framework. The framework reflects the changes to the regulator's role in the Localism Act, and the government's published directions on standards.

The regulator's role in relation to consumer standards will change significantly. The regulator will set consumer standards that all providers are required to meet. The proposals include changes to standards directed by DCLG. These include significant changes on tenure, tenant involvement and empowerment, and mobility.

Homeless Link is keen that the TSA makes every possible effort to maintain suitable standards of housing quality while facilitating an open and accessible method of recourse where tenants do not believe that are being treated appropriately. Homeless Link will urge the TSA to adopt housing regulation standards that provide good protection to vulnerable tenants and mitigate against regional variations in delivery of housing services.

The consultation closes on February 10th 2012.The full consultation document and relevant annexs can be accessed on the TSA's Statutory Consultations page.

recent Submissions

In recent months Homeless Link has made numerous submissions in response to government consultations, white and green papers and select committees. These submissions have been made across a variety of government departments on issues including the NHS restructure, Housing Benefit changes, Evaluating the Extent of Rough Sleeping, and Drug Strategy, to name but a few. Please visit our Responses and Submissions page to see an overview or to download a particular response.