Crisis publishes draft emergency legislation to end rough sleeping and homelessness during coronavirus pandemic

Provisions of draft Bill include requirement for local authorities to provide all homeless people with accommodation for 12 months and removal of 'no recourse to public funds' condition

Crisis has published draft emergency legislation aimed at ending rough sleeping and homelessness during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Introducing the draft Homelessness and the Prevention of Homelessness (Covid-19 Response) Bill, Crisis says that it -

• creates a temporary duty on local authorities in England to provide emergency temporary accommodation for 12 months to everyone who is homeless, removing current priority need and eligibility tests;
• lifts the 'no recourse for public funds' condition for 12 months so as to ensure that emergency accommodation can be funded via the welfare system for a limited period of time, therefore relieving the burden on local authorities;
• suspends the benefit cap for 12 months to support local authorities to find affordable, move-on accommodation for those that are currently in emergency accommodation; and
• provides judges with greater discretion to prevent renters being evicted when rent arrears arise as a direct result of coronavirus.

NB - Adrian Berry, Liz Davies and Connor Johnston of Garden Court Chambers worked with Crisis to draft the legislation.

For more information, see Home For All: emergency legislation from crisis.org.uk

Stop press (9 July 2020) - Crisis has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister - co-signed by more than 40 other homelessness and migrant organisations across the country - calling on the government to urgently introduce the draft legislation.