Which public authorities have the Duty to Refer
Under the law, certain public bodies must inform the borough if any of their service users are homeless or at risk of homelessness within 56 days.
They can only make a referral with the individual’s consent and should ask which local authority the person wants to be referred to.
How to refer
If you are a statutory agency with a 'Duty to Refer' under the Homeless Reduction Act, please email dutytorefer@slough.gov.uk for a link to 'ALERT' and details on how to make a referral.
Public authorities that must refer
From October 2018, the following services are required to refer service users they consider may be homeless or at risk:
- Prisons (public and private)
- Youth offender institutions
- Secure training centres
- Secure colleges
- Youth offending teams
- Probation services (community rehabilitation companies and national probation service)
- Jobcentre Plus
- Accident and emergency services in hospitals
- Urgent treatment centres (minor injury units, walk-in centres, and other locally designated urgent care centres)
- Hospitals providing in-patient treatment
- Social service authorities
The Secretary of State for Defence also has a duty to refer members of:
- Royal Navy
- Royal Marines
- Regular Army
- Royal Air Force