Homelessness Act 2002

Homelessness Act 2002

Act of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Long title	An Act to make further provision about the functions of local housing authorities relating to homelessness and the allocation of housing accommodation; and for connected purposes.
Citation	2002 c. 7
Territorial extent	England and Wales
Dates
Royal assent	26 February 2002
Other legislation
Amends	Housing Act 1985, Housing Act 1996, Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
Amended by	Localism Act 2011, Housing (Wales) Act 2014
Status: Amended
Text of statute as originally enacted
Text of the Homelessness Act 2002 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.

The Homelessness Act 2002 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Provisions

The act requires a multi-agency approach to the prevention of homelesness. ^[1]

The act amended the Housing Act 1996 and sets out the duties owed by local housing authorities to someone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness. ^[2]

The act requires local authorities to expand their categories of homeless groups in priority need of housing to include: ^[3]

• 16 and 17-year-olds,
• young people leaving care, people
• forced to flee their home because of domestic, racial and other
• forms of violence, and individuals leaving institutions

Local authorities are required to publish strategies with the goal of reducing homelesness. ^[4]

Reception

The legislation was supported by Shelter. ^[5]

References

1. "Much ado about housing". The Law Society Gazette . 6 September 2002. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
2. "Homelessness Act 2002", legislation.gov.uk , The National Archives, 26 February 2002, 2002 c. 7, retrieved 1 September 2023
3. "news analysis of how councils are coping with new definition of homelessness". Community Care. 15 August 2002. Archived from the original on 16 June 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
4. "CELEBRATION AS HOMELESSNESS BILL RECEIVES ROYAL ASSENT". Local Government Chronicle . 28 February 2002. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.
5. "QUEEN'S SPEECH - CELEBRATION AS HOMELESS PEOPLE GET THEIR BILL". Local Government Chronicle . 21 June 2001. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 3 September 2025.