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Supporting EEA nationals: housing and homelessness rights post-Brexit

Posted on 13/04/21 in Housing Matters

Supporting EEA nationals: housing and homelessness rights post-Brexit

Participants at the NHAS online event on 24 March identified useful resources on the housing rights of EEA nationals post-Brexit.

NHAS ran a free online event to help navigate post-Brexit changes to EEA nationals' housing rights. Participants from local authorities, voluntary agencies and public authorities heard a general caselaw update, followed by a training session on the topic of EEA nationals’ eligibility for housing assistance.

You can access this training session free of charge on the NHAS training portal.

During the event delegates split out into facilitated discussion groups based on the topic they had chosen:

  • EU Settlement Scheme
  • habitual residence test
  • eligibility of family members of workers and self-employed EEA nationals
  • eligibility of retired or incapacitated workers

Each of the discussion groups mentioned a range of sources of up-to-date information on EEA nationals’ housing and homelessness rights.

Shelter Legal

Shelter Legal is an online guide to housing law for professionals who help people in housing need.

It explains the eligibility for homelessness assistance of people with different immigration status. It also advises on the habitual residence test in homelessness cases.

Shelter Housing Advice

Shelter provides expert online information about housing and homelessness to the public.

You can find who can get help when facing homelessness, including EEA citizens.

NHAS advice line

NHAS specialist advisers support with housing, homelessness, housing debt and benefits queries.

The advisers assist professionals with questions via webchat at www.nhas.org.uk or over the telephone on 0300 330 0517, available Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm.

NHAS mailing list

Eligible organisations can join the NHAS mailing list for legal updates, upcoming training and events. 

Eligible organisations include local authorities, Citizens Advice, prisons and probation, Jobcentre Plus, hospital emergency departments and urgent treatment centres.

NHAS factsheets

You can download and print NHAS factsheets.

Each factsheet gives an overview of a particular housing subject for the public, covering homelessness application, Brexit, and habitual residence test.

Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities

The Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government’s (MHCLG) homelessness code of guidance explains how local authorities should perform their functions under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017. The eligibility for assistance guidance is in chapter 7.

Social housing allocations guidance

MHCLG statutory guidance on social housing allocations includes guidance on improving access to social housing for local people, members of the Armed Forces, and people who have experienced domestic abuse. Each housing authority must have their own policy for allocating social housing.

Nearly Legal

The site provides specialist housing law information and updates for free. Contents include case reports, legal updates, guides and key documents.

No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) Network

This national network safeguards the welfare of people unable to access housing or benefits due to their immigration status and provides useful information and resources.

Child Poverty Action Group

The charity works to prevent and solve poverty and provides advice and training to people who are advising the public.

Barrister chambers webinars

Barrister chambers often deliver webinars and publish articles on issues related to their work, including immigration, homelessness, and social housing.

 

The event finished with an exchange of feedback from the breakout sessions and an NHAS/Professional Support update.

NHAS thanks the speakers, facilitators and delegates who attended the event. Keep an eye on the NHAS website and monthly ebulletins for future events and training.