In the Department for Communities’ 2017 Fundamental Review of Allocations, the DfC proposed the removal of intimidation points from the Housing Selection Scheme.
However, in a recent address to the Assembly the Minister stated she does not intend to proceed with the proposal to remove intimidation points. Instead the Minister intends to ensure the system is tightly focused on prioritising people in danger in their own home, including victims of domestic violence, and to prevent abuse and ensure a robust verification process.
Housing Rights welcomes this commitment and shares the Minister’s reservations regarding the proposal to completely remove this award without alternative necessary safeguards. Housing Rights believes a blanket removal would be too simple a solution for such a complex issue and would not provide adequate protection to those in crisis whose lives are under threat.
While Housing Rights does not support the blanket removal of intimidation points, it is our view that there are issues with the current system. Notably the intimidation points test does not account for victims of intimidation in all areas of life e.g. domestic abuse victims or victims of human trafficking.