FOI request (FOIR-678216237)

HIV and priority need for social housing

Requested Mon 13 January 2025
Responded Thu 27 February 2025

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

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

b. 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?

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

3. 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?

Response

1a. Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended), Section 189; Homelessness Code of Guidance 'Vulnerability Chapter 8'

1b. Yes

2. Demand on homelessness services continues to rise. We would treat all applications with the utmost priority and make the necessary enquiries required in assessment into what duties are owed.

3. We would engage with the individual's support network, including GP, specialist services/support.