112. Living in a refuge to escape domestic Partially DH This is policy violence should be accepted as a prima facie Implemented reason for placement in priority housing regardless of prior debts or other previous tenancy listing matters. The safety and security of women and children in this situation is paramount. 113. The Department of Community Development Not Responsible EOC (DCD) to consider the provision of support for services, including measures to assist Implementation perpetrators of domestic violence to find alternative housing, and other support to enable victims of domestic violence and their families to remain where possible in the family home. 114. Review the requirement of the tenant to Partially DH Is now part of policy furnish proof of domestic violence such as police Implemented reports as a precondition to assistance. The welfare of the victim of violence, including any children involved, should be the paramount consideration in these cases. 115. A comprehensive review of Recommendation DH This is policy Homeswest’s administrative practices to be undertaken, Supported including a review of decision making, record management and property management processes, by an appropriate authority, particularly in terms of transparency and accountability. 116. Policies to be applied consistently, save that Recommendation DH discretion to depart from the policy to be Supported exercised only in favour of the tenant or prospective tenant. 117. Where senior DH officers are required to Recommendation DH Issue likely to be impacted upon with change to exercise their discretion, as a result of a priority Supported assessment for priority waitlist housing application falling outside existing guidelines, then this discretion is to be exercised in favour of the tenant in order to meet the urgent housing need. tenant’s Finding a Place recommendations in General status Respon- General Description of extent of implementation chronological order within Dept as of December 2010 sibility 118. That guidelines for discretionary decision Recommendation DH As above making be established to ensure all relevant Supported information is given due consideration (for example, number and age of children/elderly in the household, health issues, viable housing alternatives etc). 119. A register to be kept of all decisions where a Not Currently DH discretionary decision was made and the reasons Addressed for this decision.
112. Living in a refuge to escape domestic violence should be accepted as a prima facie reason for placement in priority housing regardless of prior debts or other previous tenancy listing matters. The safety and security of women and children in this situation is paramount. Partially Implemented DH This is policy 113. The Department of Community Development (DCD) to consider the provision of support services, including measures to assist perpetrators of domestic violence to find alternative housing, and other support to enable victims of domestic violence and their families to remain where possible in the family home. Not Responsible for Implementation EOC 114. Review the requirement of the tenant to furnish proof of domestic violence such as police reports as a precondition to assistance. The welfare of the victim of violence, including any children involved, should be the paramount consideration in these cases. Partially Implemented DH Is now part of policy 115. A comprehensive review of Homeswest’s administrative practices to be undertaken, including a review of decision making, record management and property management processes, by an appropriate authority, particularly in terms of transparency and accountability. Recommendation Supported DH This is policy 116. Policies to be applied consistently, save that discretion to depart from the policy to be exercised only in favour of the tenant or prospective tenant. Recommendation Supported DH 117. Where senior DH officers are required to exercise their discretion, as a result of a priority housing application falling outside existing guidelines, then this discretion is to be exercised in favour of the tenant in order to meet the tenant’s urgent housing need. Recommendation Supported DH Issue likely to be impacted upon with change to assessment for priority waitlist Finding a Place recommendations in chronological order General status within Dept Respon- sibility General Description of extent of implementation as of December 2010 118. That guidelines for discretionary decision making be established to ensure all relevant information is given due consideration (for example, number and age of children/elderly in the household, health issues, viable housing alternatives etc). Recommendation Supported DH As above 119. A register to be kept of all decisions where a discretionary decision was made and the reasons for this decision. Not Currently Addressed DH
finding-a-place---final-report-of-the-implementation-and-monitoring-committee-201112584c5bde9f62fcb668ff0000be6566.docx