29.4. In 2018 Government introduced the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA), increasing the responsibilities of councils to prevent and relieve homelessness at an earlier stage. The Act also placed greater emphasis on supporting single-person households. Since its introduction, there has been a noticeable rise in support being sought by these households, particularly single men.

29.5. Although more people are approaching the Housing Options team for assistance, fewer are being owed a prevention or relief duty. This suggests that many are receiving helpful advice early in the process, before a statutory duty is triggered. Despite this, prevention and relief duties have become more difficult to deliver due to the challenging housing market and the lack of affordable housing for those on low incomes. Over the past five years, the council's Housing Options team has expanded and adapted, not only to meet the requirements of the Act but also to respond to the needs of the local community.

29.6. The Homelessness Reduction Act introduced a statutory duty on councils to review homelessness within their authority area and formulate a homelessness and rough sleeping strategy. An update to the Greater Norwich Homelessness Strategy 2020–2025 and Norwich Rough Sleeping Strategy 2022-2027 is necessary to ensure the council, and its partners are doing all they can to prevent and respond to homelessness across the district. The review of these two strategies has resulted in this new combined Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.

29.7. In recent years, the pressure on councils to provide housing for homeless families has increased significantly. Homelessness can affect anyone, and its primary cause is a lack of access to stable, affordable, and suitable housing.