Freedom Of Information – ref 1783595
Question1: Are housing applicants that approach the council for urgent
re-housing because they are at immediate risk of harm due to domestic violence required to declare themself homeless by applying through the Part 7 homelessness route in order to be re-housed under the council's housing allocations scheme?
Answer 1: Yes they are. However, if they are an existing secure council or assured housing association tenant they do not have to apply as homeless. Harrow may be able to house them into a permanent council or assured housing association tenancy through the West London Domestic Violence Reciprocal scheme. If they are in temporary accommodation, under a homelessness duty, and suffer domestic violence they will also not need to make a new homeless application. A successful Part 7 application does not automatically lead to rehousing, there is no direct route.
Question 2:Are housing applicants that are suffering domestic violence given
reasonable preference under the council's housing allocationsscheme?
Answer 2: They are given the same preference as anybody who is homeless. They are not given any more priority because of domestic violence unless they are part of the West London Domestic Violence scheme.
Question 3:Are housing applicants that are suffering domestic violence given
reasonable preference under the council's housing allocationsscheme?
Answer 3: They are given the same preference as anybody who is homeless. They are not given any more priority because of domestic violence unless they are part of the West London Domestic Violence scheme.
Question 4: Are housing applicants that are suffering domestic violence placedin the top priority Band in the council's housing allocationsscheme? If not which Band are they placed in?
Answer 4: See answer to questions 2 and 3 above – If they are homeless Band C. We have bands A*, A, B and C. If they are part of the Domestic Violence reciprocal scheme then band A*.
Question 5: If a points scheme is in operation how many points are applicants
who are suffering domestic violence awarded? Is this the highest
award of points within the housing allocations scheme? If not what
priority will the points give these applicants within theallocations scheme?
Answer 5: Harrow utilises a“bands of need” and not a points scheme.
Question 6: Which Band(s) are housing applicants placed in if they are
considered to be homeless under S166A (3)(a) and have an urgent
need to move because of domestic violence? Are any of these the top
priority Band?
Answer 6: see above answer to question 4.
Question 7: Are housing applicants who are suffering domestic violence given the same priority within the allocations scheme regardless of tenure?"
Answer 7: No, if they are council or housing association tenants they may get a higher band.See answer to Question 4 above.
Question 8a: How many households are currently living in temporary accommodation in Harrow? Of these households how many are statutorily homeless and how many have the council accepted a duty to rehouse? 587
Answer 8a:There are 587 households living in temporary and emergency accommodation.
Question 8b:Of the households who thecouncil has accepted a duty to rehouse, how many are single people (i.e. with no dependents) fleeing domestic violence?
Answer 8b:One household.
Question 8c:In 2014 how many households fleeing domestic violence have been offered social housing? Of these how many are Band A and B and what were the priority dates?
Answer 8c:Zero households.
Question 8d:In 2014 how many households with no dependents fleeing domestic violence have been offered social housing? Of these how many are Band A and B and what were the priority dates?
Answer 8d:Zero households.
Question 8e:In 2014 how many single households without dependents fleeing domestic violence were placed in the following types of accommodation:
i. Hostel Accommodation
i. Zero households
ii. Private Sector Leased Temporary accommodation
ii. Zero
iii. Private rented accommodation
iii. Zero
iv. Housing Association accommodation
iv. Zero
v. Council owned accommodation
v. Zero
vi. Temporary accommodation outside of the borough
vi. Zero.
END.
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