FOI-5449 Social housing

Does your local authority routinely consider people living with HIV to have a priority need for social housing? 

Homeless Prevention Officers would consider HIV to be a "reason to believe" priority need pending further investigations with GP and hospital consultants. 

What criteria do you use to determine whether a person living with HIV has a priority need for social housing? 

Homeless Prevention Officers would carry out a vulnerability assessment, as well as how the condition affects the customer on a daily basis. Enquiries would also be made with GP and hospital.

Do you use the MHCLG “Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities” to assess whether a person living with HIV has a priority need for social housing? 

Yes. The Code of Guidance is always referred to when assessing a homelessness application.

Does your local authority have the sufficient time and resources to assess the priority need for social housing of a person living with HIV? 

All homeless applications have a 56 day period in which a decision can be made, irrespective of the customers personal circumstances.

Are there further resources or guidance that do not currently exist that would help your local authority assess if a person living with HIV had a priority need for social housing?

Homeless Prevention Officers would seek guidance from medical professionals involved with the customers, as well as using the Code of Guidance, and also have access to National Homelessness Advice Service (NHAS) for additional guidance and support.