Duty to refer
Public bodies have a duty to refer people they consider may be homeless or are likely to become homeless within 56 days.
This is to encourage public bodies to work together effectively to prevent homelessness by intervening earlier and providing integrated services.
The public bodies which have a duty to refer are as follows:
- DWP
- Adult social care
- Local authorities
- Children services
- Hospitals, as part of providing inpatient care
- Emergency departments
- Urgent treatment centres
- Prisons
- Youth offender institutions
- Secure training centres and colleges
- Probation services
- Youth offending teams
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- Army
- Royal Air Force