Duty to refer: an opportunity to cooperate to tackle homelessness

This advice has been published to demonstrate convincing reasons for why the duty to refer should be practised as an ‘opportunity to cooperate’ to prevent and relieve homelessness.


In this report we hope councils and their partners will find useful advice for best meeting the duty to refer responsibilities, along with examples of what genuine cooperation looks like from within England and Wales. 



There are also lessons for policymakers: for instance it is critical that the review of the Homelessness Reduction Act considers how amending the duty to refer into a ‘duty to cooperate’ will best achieve the outcomes we all want to see. We will continue to share and promote learning and experiences, and we look forward to working with the Government, councils and our housing partners on our shared ambition to build homes, reduce homelessness and create prosperous places.