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West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals. West London DV Reciprocals Agreement Lewisham Town Hall 15 th December 2005. West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals. Context. DV a significant cause of homelessness People fleeing DV have the right to approach any borough
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West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals West London DV Reciprocals Agreement Lewisham Town Hall 15th December 2005
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Context • DV a significant cause of homelessness • People fleeing DV have the right to approach any borough • Prevention is to be preferred where possible – e.g. action against perpetrator, sanctuary schemes • Best practice is for social housing tenants to transfer rather than be housed through HPUs • Boroughs pushing applicants from pillar to post • If accepted, social housing tenancies lost and periods spent in TA unnecessarily
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Barriers to co-operation • No Mechanism • Suspicion • Fear of losing out • No habit of co-operation in this way • Differences in practice (e.g. on assessment)
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Assets for co-operation • LOCATA (all West London boroughs except RBKC) • WL Homelessness Group • WL Allocations Group • WL Homelessness Co-ordinator • Borough willing to champion this area (Harrow)
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals DV Survey Jan to March 2005
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals How we did it • Sub-group of West London Homelessness Group drew up initial document • Agreed by WL Homelessness Group • Not Agreed by WL Allocations Group • Sub-group of both groups agreed limited document as pilot. • Boroughs informed staff and pilot launched August 1st for Council tenants only • To be reviewed and hopefully extended in February
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Principles of current agreement For Council tenants who are: either living in Borough A and approach Borough A or living in Borough A and approach Borough B Cannot safely remain in Borough A Could live in Borough B Borough approached leads on case (no bouncing of client) Co-operation on assessment but done as management transfer, not Part VII
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Principles of current agreement (cont) If accepted, can go into emergency accommodation, Borough B, and Borough A recharged High Priority to bid on Borough B’s list (if don’t bid, direct offer can be made after reasonable period) When housed, Borough A offer Borough B a like for like property to be put onto Borough B’s list Dependant on goodwill to work, but allocations group can resolve differences if needs be
West London Homelessness – DV Reciprocals Areas of extension? Could be extended pan London for council tenants Bring in RSLs Out of borough TA placements Access to private sector in other boroughs