Applying as Homeless

This page explains about applying to the council if you are homeless or about to become homeless.

Can I get help from the council?

Some homeless people can get housing or help to find housing from the council when they are homeless or will be in the next four weeks. But you also have to meet other legal rules. The council only has to help you with accommodation if you are counted as 'eligible for assistance' and in 'priority need'. You may not be 'eligible for assistance' if you have been living outside the UK. Get advice if you are in this situation.

You are in 'priority need' if you are aged:

• 16 or 17 and have not been in care
• 18, 19 or 20 and used to be in care

You are also in 'priority need' if you or someone in your household is:

• responsible for children
• pregnant
• homeless because of a fire, flood or other disaster
• 'vulnerable' because of a reason which could include: old age, disability, mental health, you are fleeing violence or threats of violence, you were previously in prison, you used to be in the armed forces, you are 21 or over and used to be in care or fostered, or some other special reason.

If the council thinks you might meet these requirements it must:

• find you somewhere to stay in the short term while it looks into your situation and then
• find somewhere longer term for you to live if you did not make yourself deliberately homeless.

What if I am not in priority need?

If you are homeless, 'eligible for assistance', but not in 'priority need' the council must give you advice in finding a home (such as information on private renting and local housing associations). The council should find out your needs so that the advice they offer is helpful and relevant to you.

In some less popular areas the council can decide to offer you a place even if you are not in priority need.

What happens next?

If the council decides you meet the criteria and you did not make yourself deliberately homeless, it must decide how it will help you. It can do this by:

• finding accommodation for you
• helping you to find accommodation yourself
• asking another council to help you. This should only happen if you don't have a connection with the area you are in and you didn't leave your local area because of violence or threats of violence

The council must give you suitable, long-term accommodation. But first you may have to live in temporary housing, such as a bed and breakfast. If the council suggests you should move to a private rented place on a short-term contract, get advice before doing this.

Applying to the council

To apply as homeless, go to the council's homeless persons unit. This is usually in the housing department. Make it clear you are homeless or soon will be. You should take important papers, such as any evidence you have of your homelessness. If you need to go after office hours, there should be an emergency service. If you aren't happy, ask to speak to a more senior person or get advice. If the council says it won't help you it must say so in writing and tell you why.

Further information

This leaflet is only a very basic introduction to applying as homeless in England. For more detailed information on applying as homeless go to www.shelternet.org.uk or get Shelter's free guide 'Homeless? Read this' from your local Shelter housing aid centre or by ringing Shelterline on 0808 800 4444 (24 hour freephone).

Published August 2002.

This document was provided by Shelter.