Assisting homeless children

R (W) v Lambeth LBC (CA TLR 23 May)

A social services department of the local authority has the power under s17 of the Children Act 1989 to help a family who has been found to be intentionally homeless, or were otherwise not entitled to help from their local housing authority, with assistance towards their housing needs as a family. However, whether the authority chose to exercise its powers is a matter for its discretion.