Homelessness Act 2002
| Act of Parliament | |
| Long title | An Act to make further provision about the functions of local housing authorities relating to homelessness and the allocation of housing accommodation; and for connected purposes. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2002 c. 7 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 26 February 2002 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1996, Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 |
| Amended by | Localism Act 2011, Housing (Wales) Act 2014 |
Status: Amended | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Text of the Homelessness Act 2002 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk. | |
The Homelessness Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.
Provisions
The act requires a multi-agency approach to the prevention of homelesness.[1]
The act amended the Housing Act 1996 and sets out the duties owed by local housing authorities to someone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness.[2]
The act requires local authorities to expand their categories of homeless groups in priority need of housing to include:[3]
- 16 and 17-year-olds,
- young people leaving care, people
- forced to flee their home because of domestic, racial and other
- forms of violence, and individuals leaving institutions
Local authorities are required to publish strategies with the goal of reducing homelesness.[4]
Reception
The legislation was supported by Shelter.[5]
References
- ^ "Much ado about housing". The Law Society Gazette. 6 September 2002. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "Homelessness Act 2002", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 26 February 2002, 2002 c. 7, retrieved 1 September 2023
- ^ "news analysis of how councils are coping with new definition of homelessness". Community Care. 15 August 2002. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
- ^ "CELEBRATION AS HOMELESSNESS BILL RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT". Local Government Chronicle. 28 February 2002. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "QUEEN'S SPEECH - CELEBRATION AS HOMELESS PEOPLE GET THEIR BILL". Local Government Chronicle. 21 June 2001. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)