Housing Department Confirms Homelessness Service and Emergency Accommodation

The Housing Department of the Velocity Interoperability Network today confirmed the arrangements for its homelessness service. From today, anyone in the Network who has no home, or who is at risk of losing their home within 56 days, may apply to the Department for help. Applications are assessed within two working days, and on the same day where the applicant has nowhere to stay that night.

The Department holds 120 places of emergency accommodation at Central Exchange, Northgate Relay, Southbank Terminal and Eastfield Campus, transferred from member organisations during the transition period. Thirty-eight households were accommodated in those places at establishment and continue to be accommodated by the Department. Every household assessed as homeless is given a personal housing plan and is placed in Band A of the Housing Register for an offer of settled housing.

Member organisations, the clinics of the Health Department and other public services of the Network are asked to refer to the Department anyone they believe to be homeless or at risk of homelessness, with that person's consent. The steps for seeking help, and the location and capacity of the emergency accommodation, are set out on the Homelessness page of this site. Applications and referrals may be sent to contact@housing.gov.vin.