Are you homeless?

If you are homeless now, or in danger of losing your accommodation, you should contact the Housing Options team on 01900 702660 or by email . For more information about how the Housing Options team can help, go to the Homelessness and Homelessness Prevention page.

You don't have to be sleeping on the streets or not have a roof over your head to be considered homeless. Most people who are homeless are not on the streets. There are many situations where the council must accept you are homeless, and may have a duty to help you with housing.

Examples of being homeless or being threatened with homelessness are:

• You don't have 'a roof over your head' i.e. you are street homeless
• You are experiencing, or are at risk of violence or abuse where you are living. This can be form a partner, ex-partner or family member, or someone in your area. The council will ask you to provide details of the incidents. Evidence is helpful but we will not turn you away if you have not reported the incident(s) to police.
• You're at risk of losing your home
• You can't afford to stay where you are
• Your landlord has asked you to leave
• You are not getting on with the people you live with
• Your accommodation is very temporary
• You are staying with friends or 'sofa surfing'
• You've been locked out or illegally evicted
• Your accommodation is not suitable because it is too small or in very poor condition
• Your accommodation is not suitable because of a medical condition or disability
• You can't live together with your partner or close family
• You have nowhere to put your houseboat or caravan
• You are having problems managing your tenancy or accommodation
• If one or more of these apply, you may be eligible for help from the council.

Who we can help

1.    You must normally live in the UK long-term and not be subject to immigration control.
2.    You must be homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days.

If you meet these criteria, you can make a homeless application. This means that you are telling the council you are homeless or at risk of homelessness and need their help. 
The council will make an appointment for you to be interviewed by a housing officer. This should be the same day if you have nowhere to stay that night. You can bring a support worker or friend with you in to the interview.

At the interview

You need to take the right documents to your interview. The process will be quicker if you bring your ID and notice of eviction or a letter from the person you have been staying with. For more information on the homelessness interview, you can look at the Shelter website in the ‘How to apply as homeless’ section.

If the council says it can help you…

If the council accepts that it has a duty to continue housing you when you become homeless, you'll probably have to stay in temporary accommodation until they find you somewhere more long-term or 'settled'.

If the council says it cannot help you…

You can challenge the council’s decision.

If you think the council's decision is wrong, contact an independent local advice centre like Citizens Advice Bureau as soon as you can.