Homelessness: Duty to refer
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 introduced a duty on specified public authorities to refer service users who they think may be homeless or threatened with homelessness to local authority homelessness/housing options teams. This duty is effective from 1st October 2018 and will apply to the list of public authorities set out below. Further guidance on the duty to refer can be found here: Guide to the duty to refer
- Prisons
- Youth offender institutions
- Secure training centres
- Secure colleges
- Youth offending teams
- Probation services (including community rehabilitation companies)
- Jobcentre Plus
- Social service authorities
- Emergency departments
- Urgent treatment centres
- Hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- Army
- Royal Air Force
Homelessness - Duty to refer form
Fill in our simple online form.
If you believe that someone you are working with is homeless or threatened with homelessness please fill in the duty to refer form. You MUST have the service users consent to make the referral.
Clock Completing this form takes around 10 minutes.
Fill FormAfter you've filled in the form
Housing Solutions will make contact with the person referred to determine what level of action is required. This may be in the form of general housing advice, intervention or a full assessment of needs.
Housing Solutions will respond to you within 5 working days.