Homelessness: How to get better supporting medical evidence

[@selenakam1]

How do i access your help?

[@syon600]

Guess what. Gps and eg psychiatrists are no longer allowed to send housing dept letters direct. The letter has to be requested by the housing dept!!! I have emails from both in response to my request for my own case. In last 2 weeks.

[@natashafernandes1815]

When you mean priority need how long does it take for them to house you even with priority needs.. ?

[@homelessnessbestpractice]

Depends massively on which council - waiting times for those owed the main housing duty (so those in priority need, not intentionally homeless etc.) could be as little as a few months or many, many years. You can request the council you're applying to provide average waiting times for people in different bands on the housing register, and bear in mind you could be offered private rented accommodation at any point, it just depends what properties are available.

[@JoshWoodworth-z2e]

Is it legal for a GP surgery to say "we don't do medical letters for housing" as a policy? Mine is refusing and only willing to send my medical records?!

[@homelessnessbestpractice]

I will try to answer this question in the livestream Q&A tonight (16th May 2024)

[@syon600]

See my comment above. Both gp and psychology dept at hospital say they can't write letters direct to housing. They have to be requested from them from housing dept. From my own case in last 2 wks. Now at review stage.

[@amalidarbiye4995]

Do I need a medical letter from my Gp for moving on medical grounds or just my medical information? I’m really stuck if I need one or not as the form for moving on medical grounds states we don’t need a letter from GP. Pls help thank you

[@homelessnessbestpractice]

it would depend on the medical need - if it was something really obvious like you needed a wheelchair and your home had steps in it then you might not need much evidence. Ultimately the medical evidence must prove that you need to move, so basic medical information like a patient summary or something probably wouldn't do that