HCLIC DELTA API – An easier way to stay compliant with the Homelessness Reduction Act
For housing options officers, transitioning to the new HCLIC reporting requirements has not been an easy process since the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) was implemented in 2018.
According to the March 2020 evaluation of the implementation of the Homelessness Reduction Act, local authorities faced several challenges in staying compliant with the new legislation, including finding a suitable system that helps them meet the new requirements, including submitting the new HCLIC data reporting.
As the legislation approaches its 5th anniversary, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) is implementing a new method to automate the HCLIC data upload. Through a brand new HCLIC API, DLUHC will enable housing options officers to submit data directly to DELTA through their homelessness systems with minimal manual input. Some of the benefits include:
- Reduced burden and reliability on key staff who may not be available.
- Single point of data entry and amendments for local authorities.
- More frequent and timely data submissions to DELTA, hence any validation error reports can be more up-to-date, more manageable in size and easier to resolve.
- Earlier and higher quality data published, benefitting local authorities and central government to better highlight issues and monitor performance.
- Better data security.
Home Connections is proud to lead the way in integrating our Homelessness Reduction Act software, hope, with HCLIC API, taking user input on board and feedbacking them to DLUHC to ensure a smoother transition of submission methods. The integration is already live for our hope customers.
We are exploring the new HCLIC API integration in our upcoming hope webinar, to be held on 21st July, from 10-12pm. Details below:
Join our upcoming hope webinar:
How the new DLUHC API will automate HCLIC data submissions – making life easier for you
Thursday 21st July | 10am - 12pm | Zoom
At this webinar, you will:
- Hear from Cait Marlow, Homelessness Analyst for the DLUHC, on how this new approach will benefit local authorities, saving time and effort and reducing validation errors.
- See first-hand how Home Connections has led this implementation working in partnership with hope users and DLUHC, with an exclusive view of how the integration will work in practice.
- Share learnings and discuss solutions for current challenges experienced by local authorities across England.
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Home Connections statement on the Ukraine crisis
Dear Colleagues & Partners,
Home Connections is deeply concerned with the recent tragic developments in Ukraine. We stand with the Ukrainian nation against the aggression and growing humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion.
We write to reassure you that we have no connections to, or relationships with, the Russian government or any significant Russian individuals.
We are a non-profit company registered in the UK with Companies House. We are wholly-owned and controlled by UK local authorities and housing associations, with no private owners.
We pay our taxes in the UK, and we are not registered in tax havens such as the British Virgin Islands or any other tax haven.
We also want to reassure you that we are ready to support you deal with any challenges that may arise as repercussions of the Ukraine crisis.
Kind Regards,
Ninesh Muthiah
CEO & Founder, Home Connections
Upcoming webinar: Connections Forum England
Our first Connections Forum of the year will take place on 13th April 2022. Focused on England, this free webinar is exclusive for housing professionals and representatives from local authorities. The event will explore best practice against homelessness and provide useful advice from housing experts, including Jo Beck from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to help you reshape your homelessness prevention services.
Jo will cover the importance of leadership in implementing the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) and highlight financial support available for local authorities.
Gain insights, network with peers and explore:
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The importance of leadership in embedding the HRA
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Funding available to support local authorities to end homelessness
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Overcoming HRA challenges through adopting a bespoke homelessness case management software, hope
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How to save thousands of pounds on Temporary Accommodation costs by using alternative move-on options
Learn from housing experts
Join our panelists for a discussion and Q&A about winning strategies against homelessness:
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Jo Beck, Homelessness Advice and Support Team Manager, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUCH)
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Justin Haywood, Service Manager (Housing Solutions & Partnerships), Leicester City Council
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Hamid Khan, Interim Transformation Lead for Homelessness, Brighton & Hove City Council
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Mark Meehan, Chief Housing Officer at Hammersmith & Fulham
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Ninesh Muthiah, Founder & CEO of Home Connections
Connections Forum England: Sharing best practice against homelessness
Wednesday 13th April | 10am - 12pm | Zoom
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HOPE for the future - Improving homelessness decisions through integrated HRA system
It is not an easy task to keep up with the ever-changing rules (around eviction procedures, eligibility criteria, vulnerability, and so many other circumstances) housing officers must consider when making a homeless decision. Since we started Housing Reviews 20 years ago, we have helped local authorities to investigate homeless applications, providing advice on how to interpret the Homelessness Reduction Act (HRA) law and write legally sound (and fair) decisions.
Assessing homeless cases is extensive and labour-intense work. A good understanding of the legislation is not only needed - it is essential. I watch closely the Court of Appeal decisions on cases where housing applicants challenged decisions made by local authorities. In some cases, the outcomes from the appeals open precedents.
Let's look at the R(Mitchell) v. Islington LBC [2020] EWHC case as an example. It has been thought that issuing a not-in-priority-need decision (S184) was sufficient for a local authority to terminate an interim accommodation duty (S188(1)), provided to the applicant pending the outcome of their homeless application. The High Court, however, held that this was not sufficient. A local authority also must notify the applicant that it has decided that when its duty under S189B(2) comes to an end, it will not owe the applicant a duty under section 190 or section 193 of the 1996 Act.
On the day-to-day decisions work, local authorities review hundreds of cases. And that's where common mistakes or misinterpretations of the law might lead to challenges, appeals and review requests. Your homelessness system should, however, relieve some of the burdens.
Software to improve homelessness case management
Housing Reviews has a long-standing partnership with Home Connections. We co-designed hope, Home Connections' fully configurable HRA software, and provided over 100 up-to-date letter templates, built into the system. The system is intelligent enough to suggest the best letter for the decision you make at the assessment stage. They are your safeguard and protection, as it explains in detail your decision and its basis.
Since the implementation of the HRA, hope came a long way, with new features, but still very focused on guiding you through all the aspects of the legislation. The system checks if you are HRA/H-CLIC compliant and help you to notify applicants of your homeless decisions through the fully integrated letters suite.
I am keen to discuss the new improvements to hope, alongside Dave Anteh, Home Connections Senior Project Manager, at our talk “hope 2.0” at the Brighter Future Conference. Join us as we share how this new hope will support you to assess your homeless cases more efficiently while staying legally compliant.
Minos Perdios
Director of Housing Reviews Ltd
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Preventing homelessness for domestic survivors during and after COVID-19
2020 was a hugely challenging year. We were told to stay at home, but home was not a safe place for all. With the national lockdown, I saw a dramatic increase in distressing calls from applicants who had experienced some form of domestic abuse. This was felt across other organisations. According to Women’s Aid, 81% of domestic abuse service providers experienced an increase in demand for telephone support.
Refuges could not accommodate everyone due to limited capacity, with 57% of referrals been turned away in 2019 and 2020. Survivors were feeling trapped, fearful and helpless.
The Revive team continued to work alongside housing associations and DA organisations to assist the most vulnerable cases back into secure social housing across the UK. We also signposted them to relevant agencies to ensure they will continue to receive support in the new area. Consequently, despite the challenges, we managed to rehouse over 40 domestic abuse survivors outside of their local area during 2020.
Moving outside of local area
Unarguably, most social housing applicants are unwilling to relocate outside of their area - even if that means a safe, secure, and affordable home over homelessness. My ten years working in housing taught me there are many reasons for this. And whilst moving out-of-area is not a valid option for everyone, I have witnessed hundreds of examples of people who were open to the idea of relocating, and as a result, experienced a striking life improvement. For those fleeing domestic abuse, it was the chance to rebuild their lives and start afresh.
One domestic abuse survivor who was rehoused during the first national lockdown was a retired NHS nurse. She was sadly subjected to economic abuse at the hands of her own family. The situation deteriorated to the point where she was left homeless and forced to give her jewellery to her family.
After moving into a permanent social home through the Revive service, she said: “I have been in the property for two days, but my life and my mental health has already dramatically improved. It seems that once Homefinder UK knows about your situation, they activate a plan and apply it vigorously to ensure they find you a home as soon as possible.”
You can read the full story here.
UK Housing Awards recognition
In December last year, we were delighted that the prestigious UK Housing Awards recognised our hard work and positive impact on vulnerable people’s lives by being Highly Commended. Thanks to my team of case managers, which ensures that victims and survivors receive direct support and guidance throughout the property search process, something they are often too vulnerable to undertake on their own. I must also reiterate here the important role housing associations have had in helping us to provide support for domestic abuse survivors. Thanks to their commitment, partnership, and willingness to help, we have supported 130 households in just over three years into permanent social housing.
Our work has just started. And although a higher number of domestic abuse survivors will be given priority need for housing after the vulnerability requirement has been scrapped under the new Domestic Abuse Act, it’s important we find ways to prevent homelessness for this group in the first place.
I am looking forward to discussing how can we as a sector prevent homelessness for the domestic abuse survivors at the Brighter Future Conference on 14th of October. Our panel discussion will also receive insights from Hannah Gousy (Domestic Abuse Commissioner’s Office), Gudrun Burnet (Standing Against Domestic Abuse) and Yasmin Khan (The Halo Project). It’s an opportunity not to be missed!
Brenda Fraser
Homefinder UK & Revive Manager
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It's time to join forces to recover (and thrive) after the crisis
It doesn’t get any easier in the housing sector, does it? Along with health, housing has long been seen as the area of public policy affected by more changes in legislation, guidance and practice than any other. But the changes and challenges of the last couple of years have taken matters to new heights.
Last year, ahead of the first lockdown, Campbell Tickell set up a WhatsApp group for housing chief executives. We had always been conscious that the position of a CEO is not an easy one. You are the key leader of your organisation, but you need to share and unload too, as you face up to real-life challenges. Where do you turn? Your Chair and Board members may not provide the engagement you need, however positive the relationships. It isn’t easy to share everything with your executive members who report to you. Many CEOs have coaches, but that role is different, and coaches are commonly sourced from outside one’s sector. What about other CEOs though? Especially when all are facing similar and directly comparable challenges – which was where we all found ourselves with the arrival of the pandemic.
Earlier in the pandemic, the group’s focus was inevitably on immediate issues such as:
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Managing repairs and judging what was deliverable;
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Keeping in touch with residents, especially the most vulnerable;
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Mental health and wellbeing of customers and staff;
The group’s membership swelled and swelled, to 220+ CEOs of housing associations and ALMOs, drawn from right across the UK and into the Republic of Ireland. Perhaps as remarkable, the membership has remained at that level right up to the present. The amount of ‘traffic’ has inevitably reduced – over the first six to eight weeks of the group’s life, we were seeing up to 150 messages a day posted – but it remains active to this day, and for its members, an invaluable medium to share information, ideas and good practice. While the prevailing issues have shifted from those requiring immediate attention at the onset of the virus, the current topics demanding CEOs’ attention also require sustained focus and agility, and shared insight continues to be valuable.
Over recent months, attention has gravitated to longer term questions, and I’ll be talking about these at the Brighter Future Conference on the 14th October.
This group showcases much of what is best about the housing sector, with a willingness to share, collaborate, develop partnerships. In the early days of the pandemic, it led for instance to some joint purchasing of equipment and supplies. The ‘Media, Docs and Links’ section of the group’s feed is a veritable library of policies, procedures, action plans and best practice guidance.
Colleagues have recognised the value of sharing where there is no need to compete, but every need to work together. That must be one of the big takeaways from the way we have all had to face up to the pandemic, and find positive ways through it, in the interests of our customers, our staff, our local partners and our communities.
I’m looking forward to the Brighter Future Conference, when I’ll be sharing the view of housing leaders on what is next for the housing sector, and how reimagining, resilience and collaboration are the key tools for not only recovery, but to continue to progress.
Greg Campbell
Partner at Campbell Tickell
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The latest digest of discussions on CT’s CEOs WhatsApp group is at www.campbelltickell.com/2021/07/20/housing-ceo-whatsapp-group-digest-summary-19-july-2021/. Housing CEOs wishing to join the group are welcome to contact Greg Campbell or James Tickell.
Improving access to the private rented sector for low-income households
Since I joined The Dispute Service (TDS) 11 years ago, I have increasingly witnessed homeless people, care leavers and ex-offenders being housed in the private rented sector. One of the key barriers to access good quality private rented housing is the requirement to provide a cash security deposit.
However, since the pandemic, the process became much more difficult. On one side, we have households struggling financially (ex-offenders, homeless, care leavers). On another, we have landlords who require additional financial safeguards to rent to the mentioned group.
Many local authorities offer a range of incentives to private landlords to encourage them to accept low-income tenants. This is done by either paying rent deposit to the private landlord on behalf of the tenant or by providing the landlord with a deposit bond/guarantee, local authorities need to step in to cover entry costs required.
Charities and organisations across the UK have long argued in favor of a publicly funded National Deposit Scheme to help overcome this barrier. However, to date, governments across the UK have not risen to the challenge of funding such a service.
New National Deposit Bond Scheme
At the Brighter Future Conference, together with Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), I will talk about the FairBonds scheme, a voluntary & not-for-profit National Deposit Bond Scheme to assist low-income households moving into the PRS.
I believe FairBonds can offer a quicker and leaner process for private landlords, tenants and local authorities. Developed by TDS, NRLA, Crisis and Home Connections, the scheme brings together years of expertise in housing and in deposits management.
The scheme will reduce the need for local authorities to pay upfront cash deposits or administer their own schemes, resulting in reduced administration costs.
Through the partnership between NRLA, Home Connections and FairBonds, more properties from private sector landlords will be advertised via Home Connections national mobility scheme, Homefinder UK. The commitment from private landlords to accept a FairBond instead of an upfront cash deposit will lead to more supported moves.
Looking ahead, could there be a publicly funded solution? Possibly. FairBonds will continue to advocate for national funding to support such scheme. Through the operation of the voluntary scheme, which requires only a small admin fee per FairBond registered, we will provide clear evidence to policy makers on the efficacy and value for money of this type of initiative.
I am looking forward to discussing the scheme in detail during the Brighter Future Conference on 14th of October and it will be notably insightful to hear from you on how you believe such a scheme can help you offer better housing options for those in need.
Steve Harriott
Chief Executive of The Tenancy Deposit Scheme
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How can housing providers test their digital infrastructure for vulnerabilities?
In our digital era, everything revolves around data. And, whether you are a local authority, housing association or a private landlord, the volume of highly sensitive information processed by your systems only increases. Strengthening your defences against cyber risks is imperative to defend your organisation and more importantly, your customers.
The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018 placed several obligations on all organisations, housing providers included. The main goal was to ensure the careful handling of personal data. A GDPR fine for an unreported data breach can cost you a weighty £17.5 million, or 4% of your annual global turnover – whichever can be even greater. Did you also know that the average time breaches are left undetected is 206 days?
According to a survey by Ponemon Institute, 60% of breaches in 2019 involved unpatched vulnerabilities. One way to mitigate this risk is by performing routine network vulnerability assessments. And you can conduct a successful vulnerability assessment by following these six steps:
Planning
Identify your assessment goals. Consider which assets you want to evaluate. How important is the device(s) on your network? Who has access to the device(s)? Any staff members, or solely administrators and authorised users?
Think about the following in your planning:
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Risk level
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Risk tolerance level
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Risk mitigation practices and policies for each device
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Residual risk treatment
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Countermeasures for each device or service (if the service is linked with the device)
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Business impact analysis
Scanning
Actively scan the system or network using threat intelligence, automated tools and vulnerability databases. A vulnerability scanner can help you identify any systems that are subject to known security risks. The scanner should be able to locate and identify devices, software and open ports, and gather other system information. This will be then correlated with known vulnerability information from one or more databases.
The list of vulnerabilities produced by the scanners can be exhaustive and even overwhelming to many IT security professionals. Therefore, an evaluation stage is extremely important to decide how critical the vulnerability is, how would it impact the organisation and whether any existing security controls could reduce the risk of that impact.
There is plenty of vulnerability management software tools out there, including automated tools. The National Cyber Security Centre has recently published advice on the choice, implementation and use of automated vulnerability scanning tools for organisations of all sizes.
Analysis
In this step, take a closer look at the reasons behind the detected vulnerabilities, their possible impact and how they can be alleviated. This all needs to go in the all-important Vulnerability Assessment Report, which should include recommendations and risk mitigation techniques.
Keep the following details in mind and remember that high and medium vulnerabilities should have a detailed report that may include the name of vulnerability, the date of discovery, affected systems and process to correct the vulnerability.
Alleviation
Also known as the remediation, this step takes actions on the recommendations put forth in the report. As vulnerabilities are detected and reported, the next step is to rectify, monitor, or eliminate those vulnerabilities. This can be achieved through the necessary updates and patches, or workarounds to avoid the threat.
Repeat
Vulnerability management is a process. It is essential to schedule regular assessments to ensure ongoing security of your organisation’s digital infrastructure.
Verify
The final step is to verify that threats have been eliminated through follow-up audits.
Investing in cybersecurity is essential for any company these days and particularly for housing providers given the large amounts of sensitive data they are responsible for protecting. Find out how can our housing specific software help you to manage your data securely.
Cyber security: how can housing providers prepare for cyber security threats?
Why are social housing providers targets of malicious cybercrime?
You might think that hackers would only be interested in hacking large corporations with many millions of pounds behind them. But as we have increasingly seen in the last few years, that is far from the case.
So why do hackers target the housing sector? One obvious reason is data. Social housing providers, whether huge housing associations or local councils, all store vast amounts of personal information on their tenants and applicants. Cyber criminals can then sell this data to a wide range of illicit organisations hungry for customer intel. Another reason is that hackers may want to disrupt critical services for political or personal reasons.
What are the consequences of cyberattacks on housing providers?
Let’s take a look at what happens when hackers do launch a cyberattack on housing providers.
In October 2020, Hackney Council suffered a vicious cyberattack which, nine months down the line, continues to cause major disruption to housing and benefit services. The hack is expected to cost the East London council around £10m in total.
Hackney Council is just one of many housing providers that have suffered as a result of cyber criminals.
So how can you protect yourself from cybercrime?
1. Ensure all your staff are trained
Cyber criminals commonly impersonate someone in an organisation and send fraudulent emails asking other employees for confidential data. You need to ensure your staff know how to detect a fraudulent email. Train them to:
- Check links before clicking them
- Check email addresses from the received email
- Be careful sending sensitive information. If a request seems odd, call the person in question before sending over the sought-after data
- Notify anything suspicious to IT department
The National Cyber Security Centre provides in their website a rich session on advice and guidance that covers a range of topics related to cyber security.
As 99% of housing associations are planning to move to ‘hybrid working’, implementing guides with advice for staff is recommended to ensure they can work from home securely.
2. Keep your software and systems up to date
Cyberattacks often happen because systems or software are not fully up to date resulting in vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals exploit these weaknesses to break into your network.
To prevent this from happening, invest in a patch management system to manage all software and system updates.
3. Install a Firewall
Unfortunately, there is an ever-growing plethora of sophisticated data breaches. Councils have reported more than 700 data breaches in 2020, according to a FOI research by Redscan.
Guarding your network with a firewall is one of the most effective ways to defend yourself from any cyberattack.
5. Ensure endpoint protection
Since the pandemic, we have all acclimatized to working from home. This has meant a dramatic surge in additional devices being connecting to corporate networks. Consequently, access paths to security threats are created. These paths need to be protected with specific endpoint protection software.
6. Controlling admin rights
Don’t allow employees to install software that could compromise your systems. Having managed admin rights and blocking staff from installing or even accessing certain data on your network is important.
7. Each application deserves a different password
Do not fall into the trap of using the same password for various portals. If you do, one exposure of your password will leave you vulnerable to hackers breaking access to everything in your system and any application you use. If possible, change your systems’ password policies to prompt users to update their passwords every certain period. Find out more about good password practice.
8. Backup your data
Up-to-date backups are the most effective way of recovering from a cyberattack. From cloud storage to saving files locally, establishing a data backup strategy will protect your critical data. Cloud backups are usually a good solution for most businesses as they can be done automatically, reducing human error. The speed you can retrieve your backup data is also key to ensure you face less disruptions and maintain business continuity.
Investing in cybersecurity is the best way to protect the high volume of sensitive data housing providers and local authorities hold. Especially in times when we are more vulnerable. Find out how can our housing specific software help you to manage your data securely.
*FREE webinar* COVID-19, benefits and beyond: supporting tenants through changes in income
COVID-19, benefits and beyond: supporting tenants through changes in income
Online event | 26th May 2021 | 11am - 12pm
Many people’s income will have changed in the last year. Whether they stopped, changed or started work, any income change could have an impact on their benefit entitlements, including support for housing costs.
We are hosting a FREE webinar to cover how the housing sector can support tenants as they deal with changes to their income. In this webinar, you will:
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Hear about the brand new benefits calculator integration implemented for Wheatley Group, the largest housing association in Scotland
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Learn what benefits are available for people affected by coronavirus
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Practical advice: How Universal Credit works for people who are self-employed or are considering moving into self-employment
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*Please note this event is only open for housing professionals. Your booking will only be accepted if this can be confirmed*