Homelessness Strategy and Housing Allocations Policy

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The consultation has concluded

Norwich City Council is reviewing two important policies that affect how we support people facing homelessness and how we allocate social housing. These updates aim to reflect new legislation, respond to high demand, and ensure our systems are fair and transparent.

We want to hear from residents, service users, partners, and community organisations to help shape:

  • The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which sets out how we will work with others to prevent homelessness, improve access to housing, and support people sleeping rough.
  • The Home Options Allocations Policy, which explains who can apply for social housing and how

Norwich City Council is reviewing two important policies that affect how we support people facing homelessness and how we allocate social housing. These updates aim to reflect new legislation, respond to high demand, and ensure our systems are fair and transparent.

We want to hear from residents, service users, partners, and community organisations to help shape:

  • The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which sets out how we will work with others to prevent homelessness, improve access to housing, and support people sleeping rough.
  • The Home Options Allocations Policy, which explains who can apply for social housing and how we prioritise those in greatest need.

Why your views matters

Housing pressures are rising. At any one time, around 4,000 people are waiting for social housing in Norwich, and we receive over 1,200 housing enquiries each month. Many applicants are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in unsuitable conditions.

By updating our strategy and policy, we aim to support people earlier and more effectively, make better use of available housing and ensure our approach meets local needs.

Have your say

Your feedback will help shape how we support residents and manage housing in Norwich. These proposals are currently in draft form, and we’re continuing to develop the strategy. Working alongside people with lived experience and engaging in public consultation are both essential to creating a proactive, person-centred plan to reduce homelessness over the next five years.

Before completing the survey, we recommend reading the following documents to understand the full context of the proposals:

A summary of the proposed changes is included in the survey, but the full documents provide important detail and background. You can access all supporting documents in the documents section on this page.

Complete the survey below to share your views.

The consultation will be open from Monday 10 November 2025 to Sunday 7 December 2025.

The consultation has concluded

  • Update

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    You said, we did: Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031 and Home Options 2026

    We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation on the proposed 2026-2031 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the changes to the Home Options Policy. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping how we support people experiencing homelessness in Norwich to access and keep safe, sustainable housing, and in ensuring that those with the greatest need are prioritised on our housing register.

    What you told us

    We received a range of comments and suggestions through our online survey and from partners by email. Feedback that led to changes in our strategy included concerns about identity‑based abuse (e.g., LGBTQ+) and the need for clearer partnership working with charities. Feedback that led to changes in our Home Options proposal included difficulties verifying rough sleeping, requests for clearer information about the purpose of rough sleeping silver banding, the importance of showing that the council uses objective evidence in assessments and ensuring that people experiencing financial abuse are not prevented from joining the housing register.

    What we’ve added to our strategy:

    • We have added clear commitment to working with our charity partners to develop and strengthen our Pathways service in the city.
    • We have maintained our commitment to monitoring the proportion of LGBTQ+, ethnic minority, and other vulnerable groups accessing our services, to ensure our approach is tailored to the needs of our city.
    • We have committed to, and now signed-up for, the Stonewall Housing Pledge- a Stonewall initiative aimed at ensuring LGBTQ+ resident equality and support within our services.

    What we’ve changed to our Home Options policy proposal:

    • Following feedback from the public and partners, and in line with the new national homelessness strategy, we have updated how we assess the needs of people sleeping rough. This includes using a personalised needs assessment. Silver banding will only be offered when no other off‑the‑street accommodation is available.
    • We have updated our policy wording to make it clear that housing application decisions are based on objective evidence rather than opinion.
    • We have changed how we refer to rent arrears caused by financial abuse, to ensure survivors are not unfairly prevented from joining the housing register when they need support.

    You said, we did: Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031 and Home Options 2026

    We’d like to thank everyone who took part in our consultation on the proposed 2026-2031 Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and the changes to the Home Options Policy. Your feedback has been invaluable in shaping how we support people experiencing homelessness in Norwich to access and keep safe, sustainable housing, and in ensuring that those with the greatest need are prioritised on our housing register.

    What you told us

    We received a range of comments and suggestions through our online survey and from partners by email. Feedback that led to changes in our strategy included concerns about identity‑based abuse (e.g., LGBTQ+) and the need for clearer partnership working with charities. Feedback that led to changes in our Home Options proposal included difficulties verifying rough sleeping, requests for clearer information about the purpose of rough sleeping silver banding, the importance of showing that the council uses objective evidence in assessments and ensuring that people experiencing financial abuse are not prevented from joining the housing register.

    What we’ve added to our strategy:

    • We have added clear commitment to working with our charity partners to develop and strengthen our Pathways service in the city.
    • We have maintained our commitment to monitoring the proportion of LGBTQ+, ethnic minority, and other vulnerable groups accessing our services, to ensure our approach is tailored to the needs of our city.
    • We have committed to, and now signed-up for, the Stonewall Housing Pledge- a Stonewall initiative aimed at ensuring LGBTQ+ resident equality and support within our services.

    What we’ve changed to our Home Options policy proposal:

    • Following feedback from the public and partners, and in line with the new national homelessness strategy, we have updated how we assess the needs of people sleeping rough. This includes using a personalised needs assessment. Silver banding will only be offered when no other off‑the‑street accommodation is available.
    • We have updated our policy wording to make it clear that housing application decisions are based on objective evidence rather than opinion.
    • We have changed how we refer to rent arrears caused by financial abuse, to ensure survivors are not unfairly prevented from joining the housing register when they need support.

    The consultation has concluded