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Here and Now, Not History, Determines Status of Homeless

FlatsWhen considering housing needs, it is the here and now that is in point, not the past history. That was the conclusion of the Supreme Court when determining whether a woman who was homeless was intentionally homeless or not.

The woman’s past behaviour had been such that it would be reasonable to consider her to be intentionally homeless. However, at the time of the application for housing which was the subject of the appeal, a supervening event had occurred which would have rendered her homeless whether or not the earlier act on which a supposition of intentional homelessness was based had taken place.