Porchlight helpline 0800 567 7699 – Rough sleeping? Sofa surfing? In temporary accommodation? Facing eviction? Know someone who is? Call us.
Becoming homeless is not a situation that anyone wants to experience. But for a variety of reasons many people find themselves in this situation, and sometimes it is hard to know what way to turn. Here is some basic information on how to access help, advice and support.
Every local authority has a homelessness department and a housing advice department. As soon as you find yourself homeless make an appointment with the housing advice department, who will inform you of your options.
If you are in priority need you will be able to make a full homelessness application, if you are not seen as priority need then housing advice on alternatives will be offered to you.
Priority need
Priority need means that you meet the criteria (Homeless act 1996, 2002) that state you are able to apply for social housing as a homeless claimant; however this still does not automatically entitle you to housing.
To be seen as priority need you (or someone in your household) must meet the following:
- You are pregnant
- You are responsible for dependent children
- You are homeless because of a fire, flood or other emergency/disaster
- You are aged 16 or 17
- You are aged 18 – 20 and you have been in care, had a social worker, are at risk of financial or sexual abuse, and are at risk of misusing drugs or alcohol.
- You are at risk of violence, harassment or domestic abuse
- You are vulnerable i.e. elderly, disabled, have a mental illness or personality disorder, have learning difficulties, have a chronic illness, have just left prison, hospital or the armed forces and finally some other special reason that makes you vulnerable.
Once you have made a homeless application
Once the local authority has established that you do meet priority need they will then look at the reason why you have become homeless and whether this is intentional or not. If you are found to be in priority need and not intentionally homeless then you will be owed a duty to be housed by the local authority. In most cases applicants are placed in temporary accommodation, such as bed and breakfast, until suitable permanent accommodation is allocated (families and 16/17 year olds are only able to remain in temporary accommodation for 6 weeks).
To determine whether or not you are intentionally homeless, a local authority will look at whether you did or did not, do something you should have, that would have enabled you to stay in your property, such as:
- You did not pay the rent or mortgage when you could have afforded too.
- You were evicted for anti social behaviour.
- You left accommodation that was reasonable for you to stay in.
If you are found to be intentionally homeless then you must be informed in writing of why you are being found as intentional, to which you have 21 days to appeal. In some cases the council will still house you in temporary accommodation whilst the appeal is investigated. It is recommended that if an appeal is being made then use agencies, such as Shelter, to support this appeal.
Refferals
If the decision is upheld then organisations, such as Porchlight, may be able to assist you in finding accommodation. To make a self referral to Porchlight services visit our online referrals page…
Disclaimer: Our advice section is here to offer you general guidance, however we strongly recommend that you also seek independent professional advice that is specific to your needs.
