Public bodies duty to refer homelessness

The Homeless Reduction Act makes it a legal duty for certain public bodies to refer individuals and households who are homeless or threatened with homelessness to the Housing Solutions team at Herefordshire Council.

This includes a duty to report people in the county who are:

  • Currently homeless
  • At risk of becoming homeless in the next 56 days

Before you can tell us about someone in either of these situations:

  • They must give their consent for you to tell us about them, including their contact details, and
  • They must have chosen Herefordshire Council as the housing authority they want to be referred to, and
  • You must tell them they may still need to complete a homelessness interview/application/assessment

Make a referral to Housing Solutions

You may use your agency's own form, or complete and email the form below.

All referrals, however made, must be accompanied by a signed consent form from the client.

Download a Homeless Reduction Act agency referral form

Please forward your referral to: dutytorefer@herefordshire.gov.uk

Public bodies with a duty to report homelessness

These public bodies include:

  • Prisons
  • Young offender institutions
  • Secure training centres
  • Secure colleges
  • Youth offending teams
  • Probation services (including community rehabilitation companies)
  • Jobcentres in England
  • Social service authorities (both adult and children's)
  • Emergency departments
  • Urgent treatment centres
  • Hospitals in their function of providing inpatient care
  • Secretary of State for defence in relation to members of the regular armed forces