Homelessness Internal Reviews Survey

As prefaced at the end of last year, I have today sent out emails to all our local authorities seeking data and views about the internal review process in homelessness cases (I was grateful to a doctoral student for fantastic research assistance).  My fingers are crossed, but one issue is not having contact emails for those who conduct those internal reviews.  So, this is a plea to contact me at my email address: if you are involved in homelessness decision-making at a local authority; or know the generic email address to contact the reviews officer; or are willing to provide your own email address to me if you are a reviewing officer.  Or simply tell a reviewing officer about this survey and tell them to get in touch with me.

I think we need this kind of data/research because:

• After 2014, we simply don’t know who uses the review process, let alone outcomes, nor views on whether it actually improves decision-making.  The reason why I use 2014 as the starting point is in part because that was the date of the Housing (Wales) Act 2014, but also because that was the last time data was sought on this issue (by us).
• Our previous research has demonstrated that apparently similar authorities have dramatically different usage of the review process.  Is that still the case in Wales which has expanded areas for review compared with England?
• There are various assumptions underpinning the new Homelessness and Social Housing Allocation Bill which doesn’t touch the review process particularly, but should it?
• If you are interested in the backdrop to this research, which ties in with my general concerns about the lack of housing advice, there are a range of academic resources available but, unfortunately, behind a paywall.  If you are interested, I can provide you with copies if you get in touch.