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The documents on this page reflect the focus of the City Council and its partners on preventing homelessness and evictions, and helping more people to access independent settled housing. All the new arrangements came into place on July 1st 2006.
Preventing Repeat Homelessness and Evictions Protocol
The Protocol for Preventing Repeat Homelessness and Evictions is the product of an agreement between Strategic Housing, Social Services, and Your Homes Newcastle. It sets out a series of good practice principles for staff in YHN which will help to identify when someone moving into one of their properties is vulnerable and what should be put in place with them and agencies working with them to help them to sustain and keep that tenancy. It also helps to identify what each type of agency is able to do when supporting a vulnerable tenant, and suggests ways of working together if problems do arise.
Under 18's Pathway
The Pathway for Under 18s is aimed at helping young people aged 16 or 17 to gain settled housing (with support as necessary) without having to make a homeless application. This is an interim arrangement whilst the Council looks at whether it should change its allocations policy in respect of this age group. The Pathway will mean that under 18s should have their skills for independent living assessed on a consistent basis across all agencies, and get help from agencies to sustain tenancies once they move in.
Over 18's Pathway
The Pathway for Over 18s is aimed at trying to smooth the path for people leaving supported housing to get into mainstream settled housing. It will mean that anyone who has been trying unsuccessfully to obtain a home through Your Choice Homes for 2 months will be considered for a welfare priority, instead of having to bid again.
Ineligibility Guidance
The guidance on ineligibility is designed to help agencies working with vulnerable people needing settled housing to address problems that lead to them being seen as not eligible for Your Choice Homes. It explains the way that these decisions are arrived at, and what can be done to achieve either a review, or a reversal because the applicant can demonstrate that the circumstances no longer merit that decision.
Welfare Priority Recommendation Form
If referring a person please use the above form.
All documents on this page are supported by Supporting People in Newcastle as well as the Strategic Housing Service, and YHN. For further information, information about training, or to discuss any problems putting these new polices and practices into place, please contact the Homelessness Prevention Project on 0191 277 1731 or 0191 277 1733.