The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 is to ensure that everyone who is at risk of homelessness, or who is homeless, is legally entitled to meaningful help from their local authority regardless of their current status. It does this by defining the service that local councils and other public bodies must provide to those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The law requires councils to provide that help at an earlier stage than previously, with the objective that this will decrease the likelihood that people will become homeless.
Narrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Discussions from these authors are shown:
There should be a support system to system for these people. Mental health is a big factor in this issue
No but there should be allocated refuges for the homeless, like Villages etc. To prevent such things.
Homeless who are being forced to leave there local community for housing and decline, should not be penalised for wishing to stay in that community. Further development of shelters for people sleeping rough should be developed.
No, but there should be extra support for these individuals, more homeless shelters, food banks, jobs specifically for these struggling individuals
No, but create more social progrmas to provide food, clothing, medicine and housing to help homeless people
Yes, as long as its not on private property and provide more options for shelter, medicine and food.
Yes, but each case should be taken on its own merit - for example, someone should not be allowed to park a van and settle at a public beauty spot, causing a blight and reducing the enjoyment for others, and claim it their right as they are of no fixed abode.
Should be more options with social housing so recovering addicts don’t have the choice between homelessness on public property and going back to somewhere full of drugs
Due to some criminal and drug issues in hostels and shelters it shouldn't be illegal. But the hostels are the issue and need more monitoring.
Criminalisation of those who need help is inhumane. If they have refused shelter they may need other types of social care to help them. These services should be more widely available and easier to access.
The question is too simplistic - there should be services to support the homeless with health issues, trauma, addiction, etc. Shelter is only one of the issues.
The offer of help should never expire. I believe if we start supporting families and children who are more likely to have addiction or homelessness this will also help.
Yes but in addition to social programmes we need more shelters so that this isn’t an issue to begin with.
They should be supported and helped but... depends on reasons for refusing available housing/shelter?
homeless people need secure hosing that can't be taken away from them and lots of support and they will become independent faster tynanyou think
Should be support in place to work with the homeless people to get an understanding of their thoughts and worries about taking the housing/shelter
Could be once in that property support will then be given to set up health screening/jobs support /food bank/pantry /drung and alcohol programme/counselling mental health support to give them the tool kit to make the house shelter feel a place of safety
Somtimes just giving someone a a place to stay with no care planning around it is just setting someone up to fail and living back on the streets would seem to them more convenient
No, but they should be taken to a facility that offers psychiatric treatment, to assimilate them back into society.
Yes but if they refuse programs to educate, integrate and accommodate then they could be considered “lost causes”
There should just be a better opportunity and places that allow people who are homeless to still have a place to sleep as they are still human and have the right to sleep in a safe space
Depends on their reasons for refusing, for example a refusal due to the offered housing not meeting needs shouldn't result in negative consequences
if the owner of the property allows it an the individual circumstances are understood as this is a lifestyle choice for some. Large numbers shouldn’t be allowed to camp together. Irrespective it should not be a criminal offence
Too broad, the individuals need to be treated as such. However violent behaviour due to alcohol and drugs should not be accepted.
Criminalising the homeless is cruel and not a proportionate punishment. Trust and support needs to be built to help u derstand why some people don’t want to engage with mainstream services. Invest more in those agencies, charities and groups that support the homeless
No,. it would be better if they weren't homeless to begin with; the cost of living crisis exists because of a decrepit Tory government. So, the solution is get rid of the Tories, get people off the streets and into social housing (nevermind winging private landlords who are corrupt and deserve to have their buy to let properties taken from them anyway), and get the homeless back into work wherever possible.
Its circumstantal, some social programmes and living shelters are dangerous and not safe for everyone.
Everyone deserves a home who are from the uk and more houses built and only given to British citizen
Yes!!! Of course, where else will they go... Unless you can suggest that you build more Homeless Pods like they have in Blackburn, Lancashire. These are a great source to helping people find a bed. I would suggest more funding needs to go to the kind of Charities that support homeless to give them more scope in working with such clients. Funding is limited, work becomes limited, more people on the streets.
More support needs to be put into place for those with drug or alcohol addiction or those who need their pets for mental health support.
All homeless people should have access to shelter, food, clothing and medicine. There should be opportunities for them to be supported and find work and a home.
Yes, but only because there should be more options for people with complex trauma
No but make living conditions better for homeless
We need to better understand how they’ve got into that situation, why they refused accommodation, and what can be done to help them. They’re not criminals and shouldn’t be treated as such.
I believe they should be given accommodation
No, provided that the housing offered is decent and does not further worsen the physical/mental health of the person.
No, increase quality of emergency accommodation and council housing so they don’t refuse. People don’t just refuse for no reason, especially when homeless
It should be strongly advised against, however sleeping arrangements for the homeless should be split based on age, religion, and gender.
Programs should be created to help homeless individuals who have refused shelter or housing and assess why they have. This could address some issues they have such as fearing for their own safety or not being able to adjust to living in a shelter or housing.
Homelessness needs to be tackled without allowing trespassing, more shelters and accommodation needs to be made available for our homelessness.
if they have refused help then no but still give food just less than those who want to be in shelter and are not drawn by drug use
Some leeway offered, turn a blind eye to an extent, whilst trying to engage and improve alternative accomodation options.
No but more provisions need to be made to assist the homeless with Shelter, mental health and battling drug addiction.
if it causes a nuisance to a property then the owner of the property can kindly tell them to leave. If it doesn't harm any property or person, leave them be.
If a person has refused a property that doesn’t meet the required living standards then yes. But if they have refused a property that does meet the requirements then no.
We should not criminalise homelessness or rough sleeping. But encouraging or permitting encampments is a bad idea. People need shelter, support and rehousing
@9NHV3M8Plaid Cymru10mos10MO
Only if the reason they're refusing said shelter is due to requirements of sobriety/drug testing. The system is broken.
they should not be allowed on individuals private property if they have refused help and shelter that was previously offered. mental health counseling should be available
If they have declined housing or shelter, I believe no. However I agree with creating more programs to provide free food, clothing and medicine for the homeless.
Provided that they are not causing damage or other antisocial results, and are doing so considerately, people who cannot reasonably be accommodated elsewhere (for good reason) should be allowed to do so. There should simultaneously be increased efforts to encourage them to engage with routes to accommodation.
No but policing should be sensitive to individuals so that they are not removed forcibly. More money should be invested in shelters, counselling and support for homeless people.
A person who is able to walk and are in fairly good health should not been given help as they can apply for a job.
Yes, but priority should be on giving them places to live also.
i don't think it should be criminalised, however there needs to be more services to understand why someone would refuse help. understanding the root of the problem
Yes, and create more social programmes to provide free food, clothing, and medicine and support homeless people to work towards acceptance of housing
No but the councils should listen to why these spaces are not being used and address this providing smaller, but more numerous safer spaces
Depends where they sleep. if they are not negatively effecting someone then yes
No, alternate methods for temporary homing on public property should be provided by local authorities. Such as temporary housing pods.
The available shelter or housing offered should be checked that it is suitable for them first before other rules are looked at
It should be a criminal offence but instead be taken to jail be taken to a homeless shelter unless they use physical voilence
Yes, but should not be allowed to harass people
Make shelters more accessible, safer, fund them more etc
No, housing should be available and accepted for/ by everyone.
No, but more supported housing for them should be available so they don't have to sleep on public property
There should be more options available to homeless people.
limitations on the public property they can sleep on but generally yes
Should never be homeless.
No, and create powers to remove them to housing or shelter.
depends where it is uncomfertable them watching you wanting your money..
Yes, but reform social health policies to provide adequate support to help themselves get back off of the street
Where else can they go? I understand why people don't like it, but where can they go? We should invest in programs that help them reintegrate into society without the council interfering in it.
It should depend on the wishes of owner of the building or space. Ideally, the Government would help try to fix the issue of homelessness by actually caring.
No but create opportunities and social programs to get homelessness working and paid
If there is no where else for them to go then it should be allowed but I also believe we have plenty of space to set up campsites where there could be charity’s working within them to help people get back on their feet
Yes, but improve and regulate current available shelter or housing to ensure quality
yes but if the owner doesn’t want them on the property then no
No, But they need mental health support
depends if they have rejected because of personal reasons such as anxiety or other reasons that are suitable
Yes, but increase quality of emergency accommodation and council housing so they don’t refuse. People don’t just refuse for no reason, especially when homeless
it could be offence to many people
yes but if they refuse other properties like food, clothing and medicine then it should be a criminal offence
No, but there should be better social housing schemes in place to house homeless people
Depends on the circumstances that led to them refusing the offers of shelter and housing. Some housing isn't suitable or safe for habitation.
No, we should give them houses
People who have refused available shelter or housing usually have severe underlying mental health issues, so providing support for this would be the most effective method to get these people off the streets.
The government needs to tear down golf courses and other places dedicated to trivial and pretentious activities to build housing for the homeless.
Find them a place to sleep and there’s no problem
No, but organisations should work with the homeless to find out the reason for refusal and help them get appropriate support.
No, but encourage use of social programs to aid and help in their home situation
No, but they still need to take what is offered to them. They should take the opportunities for shelter, and be provided help as well i.e. clothing.
There is a sensible middle ground here which isn’t cruel
They probably need other services like drug rehab first
No because they declined the offer of shelter
No, but make support and shelter for those trapped in homelessness more accessible
Yes, but we should be able to move them.
No, Accommodation should be provided by the state
No however they should be encouraged to stay in shelters and shelters should be allowed more funding and to be safer for those required to stay in them
Dependant on why they refused. Hostels and people with mental health issues don't wlways mix. They would need additional support with this.
I believe it should be the decision of the owner of the land to allow them on, if they do not allow it, for it to be classed as trespassing like it would be for everyone else.
No but should implement programs to help provide more shelter
Need to find suitably acceptable places to enable this to happen
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.
