If you are homeless or at risk of homelessness you can contact our team on 0800 011 6511
Please contact us as soon as you begin experiencing difficulties – we may be able to help. our priority is to take action and support before someone becomes homeless.
We are here to support people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. We aim to give clear advice, support, and excellent customer service to help them find a place to live. We also check and assess homelessness applications, in line with Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996.
What can the Homeless Prevention Team do for you?
The main goal of the Homeless Prevention Team is to stop people from becoming homeless. We do this by giving you advice and support. We can talk to your family or landlord to help you stay in your home. If that’s not possible, we’ll work with you to find other safe housing options.
We can help with a number of different housing issues. This includes:
- Being homeless because of an emergency like a fire or flood
- Falling behind on rent or mortgage payments
- Living in a home that’s in poor condition
- Being asked to leave by your landlord
- Your tenancy ending soon
- Escaping violence or abuse
- Living in an overcrowded home
- Being told to leave by family or after a relationship ends
- Struggling to stay in your home and needing support
- Needing help with debts
We can also refer you to other services or point you in the right direction for more help. You’ll be offered an appointment with an officer to talk about your situation.
At the interview
Please make sure to bring all the documents and information for your application. If you don’t, it could delay how quickly we can help you.
You’ll work with a member of our team to create a Personal Housing Plan. This plan will set out what we will do and what you need to do to help solve your housing problem. You’ll get a copy of this plan.
We will stay in touch with you to check how things are going and make sure everyone is doing what was set out in the plan.
If we can’t prevent or relieve your homelessness in time, we will take a formal homelessness application under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996.
If the Council says it can help you.
If your homelessness application is accepted under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, we have confirmed we have a legal duty to help you, and you’ve been given temporary housing, you can stay there until you are offered a permanent home.
If the Council says it cannot help you
If your application is declined and the Council does not have a legal duty to help you under Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996, and you have been staying in temporary accommodation, you will be given a date when you must leave.
If you don’t agree with this decision, you have the right to challenge it.
You can also get advice and support from an independent local advice service, such as the Citizens Advice Bureau, to help you understand your options and what to do next.
Other support if you are not eligible
If you are not eligible for housing, you may still be able to access help from other services such as Social Services if you have children or additional needs.
The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 came into effect on 3 April 2018. It made important changes to how councils help people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
A duty to refer means that certain public services must tell the council if they think someone is homeless or might become homeless. This rule started on 1 October 2018 and applies only in England.
These public services include:
- Jobcentre Plus
- Prisons (public and private)
- Probation services and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs)
- Youth offending teams and institutions
- Secure training centres and colleges
- Social services
- Hospitals (in-patient care)
- A&E departments
- Urgent treatment centres (like walk-in centres or minor injury units)
- The armed forces
If someone is using one of these services or is about to leave and they are homeless or at risk, staff can refer them to a local council with their permission. They can choose which council they want to be referred to. However, this doesn't mean that the council has accepted a homelessness application under the law (Part 7 of the Housing Act 1996).
Public services have been given information about this duty so they understand what they need to do.
Councils are also working with other services that are not legally required to refer people, to encourage them to help too. This is called a duty to cooperate.