Under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017, certain public organisations must notify a local council if they are supporting someone who is homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days.
What you must do before making a referral
Before you submit a referral, you must have the person’s permission. You must make sure they:
- Give consent to the referral
- Choose the council in England they would like the referral sent to
- Agree to share their contact details so the housing team can get in touch with them
Public services included in the duty
This duty applies to staff working in:
- Prisons and youth offender institutions
- Youth offender institutions
- Colleges
- Youth offending teams
- Probation services
- Jobcentre Plus
- Social services
- Hospitals (including emergency departments and inpatient care)
If you are a professional organisation, such as a prison, Jobcentre, or hospital, you can refer someone to us by completing an online Duty to Refer form.
Important: A referral is not a homelessness application. To receive support, the person you refer must engage with our team and complete the application process.
Further guidance
For more details, read the government’s guide to the Duty to Refer. It includes:
- Which organisations are included in the duty
- Advice on how to identify when someone is threatened with homelessness