Section 3: Homelessness strategies, Homelessness Act 2002

For the purposes of this Act "homelessness strategy" means a strategy formulated by a local housing authority for—

preventing homelessness in their district;

securing that sufficient accommodation is and will be available for people in their district who are or may become homeless;

securing the satisfactory provision of support for people in their district—

who are or may become homeless; or

who have been homeless and need support to prevent them becoming homeless again.

A homelessness strategy may include specific objectives to be pursued, and specific action planned to be taken, in the course of the exercise of—

the functions of the authority as a local housing authority; or

the functions of the social services authority for the district.

A homelessness strategy may also include provision relating to specific action which the authority expects to be taken—

by any public authority with functions (not being functions mentioned in subsection (2)) which are capable of contributing to the achievement of any of the objectives mentioned in subsection (1); or

by any voluntary organisation or other person whose activities are capable of contributing to the achievement of any of those objectives.

The inclusion in a homelessness strategy of any provision relating to action mentioned in subsection (3) requires the approval of the body or person concerned.

In formulating a homelessness strategy the authority shall consider (among other things) the extent to which any of the objectives mentioned in subsection (1) can be achieved through action involving two or more of the bodies or other persons mentioned in subsections (2) and (3).

The authority shall keep their homelessness strategy under review and may modify it from time to time.

If the authority modify their homelessness strategy, they shall publish the modifications or the strategy as modified (as they consider most appropriate).

In formulating or modifying a homelessness strategy, a local housing authority ... shall have regard to—

its current allocation scheme under section 166A of the Housing Act 1996,

its current tenancy strategy under section 150 of the Localism Act 2011, and

in the case of an authority that is a London borough council, the current London housing strategy.

Before adopting or modifying a homelessness strategy the authority shall consult such public or local authorities, voluntary organisations or other persons as they consider appropriate.

The authority shall—

make a copy of everything published under section 1 or this section available at its principal office for inspection at all reasonable hours, without charge, by members of the public; and

provide (on payment if required by the authority of a reasonable charge) a copy of anything so published to any member of the public who asks for one.

Section 3: Homelessness strategies

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