The Kent Housing Options Group, sub group of the Kent Housing Group with representation from local housing authorities and Kent County Council have developed the Kent and Medway Duty to Refer Protocol. The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 calls for new referral and joint working arrangements between housing authorities and other public sector authorities in the prevention and relief of homelessness. The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government have published the Homelessness Code of Guidance, a document for local authorities that provides guidance about how they should exercise their homelessness functions in accordance with the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.
This protocol sets out how local authorities within Kent and Medway, and public authorities operating in the local areas will work together to prevent homelessness; it also sets out the procedures to be followed in making referrals of individuals identified as being homeless or at risk of homelessness.
With this protocol are two referral forms, one is a short form the other is a longer more detailed referral form, designed to be used by the Prison Service. In addition there is a contact sheet with the relevant contact details for each of the local authorities in Kent and Medway.
The original document was been agreed and signed off in August 2020. This revised version, agreed in August 2022, provides contact emails for the local housing authorities.
Attached Documents
| Document Title | Size |
|---|---|
| Final Kent & Medway Duty to Refer Protocol (August 2022) | 543Kb |
| Final Short K&M Duty to Refer Referral Form | 57Kb |
| Final Prison Duty to Refer Referral Form | 274Kb |
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