Reconnection interventions should take place for rough sleepers, particularly new arrivals, who have a link with an area where they have accommodation, employment, support networks (friends or family) or another connection.

In this context reconnection of single homeless people is likely to be an intervention outside of statutory homelessness legislation and should not be confused with referrals made under the legislation for those in priority need.

It will not be appropriate to apply reconnections policies to every rough sleeper or single homeless person with out-of-area connections. In particular, where a local housing authority has accepted a duty to secure accommodation for a rough sleeper or single homeless person under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, reconnections policies should not be applied (although local connections provisions under the homelessness legislation may be relevant).

An individual not having a local connection with the area where they present should not be an obstacle to being assessed. Where an individual is homeless but not in priority need they have a right to advice and assistance which may include support with a referral to services in their local area.

Any work to reconnect someone (whether this is being done by a local authority or homelessness organisation) should be on the basis of an assessment.

Any assessment should take account of the following:

• Where the individual has local connection/social networks/accommodation/support - to assess this it's maybe importance to ask about where they have recently lived and worked (and for how long), whether individuals have registration with the GP, a welfare benefits claim, a support plan, a tenancy, or family
   
• Willingness to return and consent for reconnection activity
   
• Why the individual left the area
   
• Whether it is safe for the individual to return
   
• What the individual’s support, health (mental and physical) and housing needs are
   
• What support needs to be put in place to enable the return
   
• What agencies they have been engaged with in their original area including care or support plans, prescribed medication, probation orders and accommodation providers
   
• Family and friends who have supported them in the past

For information about reconnecting rough sleepers from Central and Eastern Europe to their home country, visit Routes Home.