FOI request (FOIR-261268892)

Homeless Service

Requested Thu 15 October 2020
Responded  Thu 24 December 2020

1A. Does your council routinely ask your homeless service users about their sexuality as part of monitoring?

1B. Does your council routinely ask your homeless service users about their gender identity as part of monitoring?

2A. Does your council require 'proof' to show that people have been asked to leave home by their family members?

2B. Would you contact the family members of LGBT people who have been asked to leave their homes, for further proof?

3. Have your housing officers received specialist LGBT homelessness training?

4. Does your council offer an emergency homeless shelter/service for LGBT people?

5. How much money did your council spend on LGBT related merchandise for Pride events, or LGBT diversity celebrations, in the financial year 2019-2020 (e.g. Rainbow flags for Pride 2019)?

Response

1A. Sexuality - this information is required by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) as part of the Homelessness Case Level Collection (HCLIC) quarterly return. Sexuality is asked for on our online Housing Assistance Referral form (HPA2) which applicant/referral agencies complete. Sexuality only needs to be provided for the 'main' applicant named in the HPA2 referral form.

1B. Gender - this information is required by MHCLG as part of HCLIC. Gender is asked for on HPA2 referral form which applicant/referral agencies complete. Gender must be provided for all household members named in the HPA2 referral form. We also use gender to work out how many bedrooms a household need.

2A. The council has a duty under Section 184 of the Housing Act 1996 Part VII (as amended) to make enquiries to establish whether a person is homeless and the reason(s) for homelessness. The council would not make contact with a person who is considered to be a perpetrator of domestic abuse, violence or similar if this would put the homeless applicant at risk.

2B. As above.

3. There is no LGBT Homelessness training specifically offered by the Council but external training is regularly undertaken by the housing teams.

4. The council provides a homeless service for all households. We offer a bespoke service for homeless rough sleepers by employing a Specialist Housing Options Officer (Rough Sleepers), Rough Sleepers Initiative / Rapid Rehousing Pathway, and commission rough sleeper outreach work via a local charity to engage rough sleepers to work with the council to find housing solutions.

5. Zero