Think you know all about them just from the job title? Think again
Clue's in the name, surely?
Well, yes, the job does involve working with homeless people – interviewing them to assess if they are eligible for housing under the Homelessness Act 2002 and to find out if the local authority is obliged to care for them.

But it's a wider-ranging role than you might think: homeless person officers also often have to offer advice on issues such as disrepair of private sector accommodation, harassment, illegal eviction and rehousing options and will refer applicants to accommodation and advise them on disabled facilities grants and debt management.

The officer will ask questions about the client's address history for five years, establish eligibility and reasons for homelessness, fill in forms and write letters.

Who employs them?
Councils and large housing organisations.

Stuck in the office or out and about?
It depends. Some clients will be interviewed at the council office, some elsewhere – so a driving licence would be useful.

Would I need formal qualifications?
You would need a Chartered Institute of Housing national certificate, NVQ level 2-4, or postgraduate diploma in housing.

What skills are important?
People with housing needs may be vulnerable, so officers need good interpersonal skills to deal with them.

It’s a highly rewarding job. The amount of people you help is very large

Jacqueline Riley, Waltham Forest council

"You have to be good with people and have an investigative mind," says Jacqueline Riley, homeless persons officer at Waltham Forest council in east London. "You have to be able to talk to people no matter who they are."

The ability to understand complex legislation such as the 2002 Homelessness Act 2002 is also required, to judge whether applicants qualify for council support.

Is the pay any good?
Salaries range from £25,000 to £40,000 (including London). "It's a highly rewarding job. The amount of people you help is very large," adds Riley.

What are the hours like?
A homeless persons officer would work about 38 hours a week.

Good prospects?
With the introduction of last year's Homelessness Act, the need to cut down on temporary accommodation is rising so jobs are coming up all the time in councils and housing associations.

Source

Housing Today