On 11 March the High Court published this important decision. Homeless persons with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) can be lawfully provided with accommodation by local authorities during the pandemic. Helpful clarity for local authorities.

The case also highlighted the stark and harsh reality of homelessness during the Covid-19 pandemic. University College London research was considered which found that during just three months of the "Everyone In" campaign to house all rough sleepers during the first 2020 lockdown, those measures had avoided over 21,000 Covid-19 infections, 1164 hospital admissions, 338 ICU admissions and 266 deaths. Although the claimant had been rehoused by the Home Office elsewhere by the time of the court hearing, the court allowed it to proceed as an academic claim due to the question of law of importance beyond this case potentially affecting many other applicants for accommodation.

The full law report of the R(Ncube) v Brighton and Hove DC case can be found here.