Why or why has no homeless charity decided to go undercover and do a mystery shopper exercise so that they can name and shame the LA's that are gatekeeping and denying people the right to make Part VII applications?
Until this issue is pushed into the public domain, more and more people will be stopped from homelessness applications.
In my authority its become a case of not taking an application until the latest possible moment, people are being made to stay in overcrowded conditions whilst privarely rented accommodation is sought for them. Even when property is obtained they are forced at times to accept the property by tactics that border on bullying
A Parcel of Rogues
10 years ago
11 comments:
I was actually discussing this with my boss today.
The problem is would anyone actually care about the results?
The only way I think that anything can be achieved (ie the law actually being followed) is for truely independent advice agencies so not the CAB or Shelter to batter Local Authorities into submission in a well coordinated sustained attack.
That's not going to happen anytime soon.
Can't see A4e doing it either ;)
Well those of a "Daily Mail" frame of mind would probably ignore it or stick up for the LA's.
The DCLG experts claim to do mystery shopping exercises, but thats like Bernard Matthews saying he is a turkeys representative a xmas approaches
When I worked at Shelter I always thought that. Shelter *does* do some mystery shopping exercises. I know, as I did some of it. However, I believe this is where they have been invited to do so by the council rather than as a way of exposing bad practice (so it might expose bad practice and that's likely to be in a council that is willing to listen - but then it's not going to be used as a lobbying issue)
I was frequently tempted to do individual mystery shopping but the ethical problem that arises is that if you're asking for interim accommodation (which is the really interesting *test*) then it's hard to justify faking a need for such a limited resource -
With perfect timing i got invited to do mystery shopping for shelter this week,
They're looking for other (voluntary) mystery shoppers - if you're interest contact Shelters Business Support Team, (I can't really publish their contact details on a public blog)
But it's not enough - I want someone to do mystery shopping at the London authorities we know and loathe...
I would love to see people doing mystery shopping at HPU's or other local government departments.
I think that one problem which puts people off is that Section 214 of the Housing Act 1996 appears to expose mystery shoppers to being prosecuted for committing the criminal act of providing false information in support of a homelessness application. Assuming the mystery shopper does not have grounds to pursue a genuine homelessness application then any information given to the effect that they are homeless and in priority need etc would put them at risk of prosecution. It may seem hard to imagine a local authority being mean spirited enough to pursue a prosecution but the stakes are very high. A conviction such as this for an offence involving dishonesty could lead to solicitors or barristers being struck off or people who wanted to qualify later being unable to do so.
Hopefully I am being unduly alarmist and it can be done. Shelter must have thought of this before inviting Anonymous to do the mystery shopping unless it was more mystery shopping requested by the authority to monitor their own staff.
I would also be interested to know how the mystery shopper would go about things. It would be very good if they could tape record or even film what goes on and then publicise it. Films of people being mistreated appearing on Youtube for instance might make council management sit up and think.
It's me again :) (anon of tunbridge wells)
In the mystery shopping I've done it was at the request of the LA's involved - so presumably that gets around any risk.
However, it is also only the initial presentation - by phone, so the homelessness declaration isn't signed.
But yep I can see the concern about doing more in depth homeless presentations. Really it needs the government department to do 'mystery shopping' but they're hardly likely to want it to be clear how useless the 'prevention' agenda is.
Sorry for joining this discussion late...but the only people who would care are those of us who actually gave a crap about justice, fairness, common sense, and any number of other things.
And, even if the LAs actually went with a mystery shopper approach, that just creates statistics and they can be made to say anything unfortunately.
House is right, a truely independent organisation would be the only way forward, but who is going to take that on?....
I think it needs more than this. It needs another Cathy Come Home - but this time a filmed documentary including clandestinely filmed footage of interview and revealing the abusive process which passes for a housing advice and homelessness service in some boroughs.
I think there might even be (supported) clients prepared to take this step, as by word of mouth some clients are finding out in advance just how hard the process is and are seeking advice prior to their applications.
We have to (routinely) advise about the unlawful blocks likely to be put in the way of our client group of mainly homeless 16-18 year olds and young parents by one council... And stand by to enforce any and all interim duties with a letter before claim or injunction.
Cant remember the last time even a street homeless client actually got put into accommodation that night without legal intervention against one particular South London Authority (no matter how well prepared they are in terms of documents, evidence etc).
This is how the authority treats children. For shame.
Well a south london LA has put myself my partner and young son into a temp accomodation B&B costing 50 per night (or 350 per week !), if we could afford 1400 per month we would of been renting privatly weeks ago ! and obviously our e-mails and calls asking for a update are not returned !!
Well I am exactly in this situation now with a certain London LHA / Homeless persons unit.
I have been documenting everything !
let me know if I can help at all !
Dear Smoking Gun,
You may be pleased to hear that Crisis have been 'Shopping' in some parts of London and are hoping to publish their results in the near future.
Let's hope the government takes heed...
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