HIV and homelessness: Lobbying, law, policy and practice

Abstract

This article outlines the issues that arise for homeless people with HIV under the homeless persons legislation - Housing Act 1985, Part III. An examination of the ways in which homeless people with HIV are guided through the process of making a homelessness application from the first step to its conclusion tells us much about the homelessness legislation in itself as well as the administrative process of policy formulation and practice. The importance of lobbying in that process is a key issue in addition to how local authorities interpret the key concepts of the Act. The implications of the government's recent homelessness Consultation Paper is added to this complex matrix. Finally, community care is considered

Key Words:

• HIV
• Homelessness
• priority need
• intentional
• local connection
• community care