Duty to Refer

Some public authorities must refer people in the district they consider are homeless (or threatened with homelessness within 56 days) to us. 

The public authorities with a duty to refer are:

• Prisons
• Young Offenders Institutions
• Secure Training Centres
• Secure Colleges
• Youth Offending teams
• Probation Services (including rehabilitation companies)
• Jobcentres
• Social Services Authorities (both Child and Adult)
• Emergency Departments
• Urgent Treatment Centres
• Hospitals in their function of providing Inpatient Care
• Secretary of State for Defence about members of the regular Armed Forces

If you are a member of the public and see someone sleeping rough in our district you can report this on the Streetlink website.

Information required

You must have the person's consent and must supply the following information:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Address (if they have one)
• A method of contact - a telephone number and the client's email address is preferred (however an address is acceptable, particularly for those who are in prison)
• The agreed reason for referral