Homelessness
We have a range of duties under legislation laid down by
government, to help homeless people. This help may be giving
advice and information or finding long
term housing.
When we look at your homeless applications we have to be
satisfied that you are:
The first thing you need to do if you are homeless or threatened
with homelessness is contact us to see
what help, advice and assistance we can
offer you.
We need to ask you the following questions:
Are you
Eligible?
Not everyone who is homeless is eligible for help with housing.
If you are a British Citizen, a European Economic Area national or
a settled person you are likely to be eligible.
Please Note: The legislation makes certain people from abroad
ineligible for housing assistance. If you have no recourse to
public funds or do not pass a Habitual Residency Test, we will be
unable to help you, but can offer you housing advice. Please
contact us for further information.
Are you
Homeless?
Homeless is a term which covers a range of situations which
people find themselves in. You may be homeless if:
- You have nowhere to stay tonight
- You have been staying somewhere but have no legal rights to
stay there and are being told to leave
- You have been locked out of your home and told not to go
back
- You have somewhere to live but are likely to face violence if
you return
- You are forced to live apart from someone you normally live
with, or who we considers it would be reasonable for you to live
with
- You are forced to leave your home because of harassment
- You have a mobile home, caravan or boat but do not have
anywhere to put it or that you can live in.
Please Note: We will not usually consider you as homeless unless
you are within 28 days of losing your accommodation, but we will
investigate and try to prevent you becoming homeless before this.
We can also provide you with advice to ensure that your
accommodation remains available to you or to help you find
alternative solutions to your housing problems. Please contact us for further information.
Are you in Priority
Need?
The legislation helps decide the groups of people who are in
priority need. You may have a priority need if your circumstances
are such that they would make you more vulnerable or disadvantaged
if you were homeless and would include:
- Households with dependant children
- Pregnant women
- If you are homeless as a result of a disaster such as fire,
flood or other disaster
- Under 18s
- Those who may be vulnerable due to old age, mental or physical
illness or disability, suffering violence, or with an institutional
background such as being in care, the army or prison.
Please Note: People who are not in priority need will be
provided with advice and assistance to help with housing problems.
Please contact us for further
information.
What if I make myself
homeless?
The homelessness law says you are intentionally homeless if:
- You deliberately gave up accommodation it would have been
reasonable for you to have continued to occupy
- You deliberately did something, or failed to do something,
which you knew would mean losing your accommodation, for example;
due to non-payment of rent or anti-social behaviour
- You made arrangements to stay in accommodation on an insecure
basis which gave you no legal rights, with the intention of making
a homelessness application
- You failed to act on legal/financial, advice/assistance that
you have been given to help you find alternative suitable
accommodation or to help you stay in your home.
Please Note: If you are in priority need but homeless through
your own fault, we have no duty to find you long-term
accommodation. We will help you by giving advice and assistance.
Please contact us for further
information.
Do
you have a Local Connection with Wychavon?
We will also be looking to see if you have a local connection
within our area, this usually includes the following:
- That you have lived in settled accommodation in our area for a
minimum of 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5
years
- That you have permanent employment here or
- That you have a close family member that has lived in the area
for more than 5 years.
Please Note: If you have no local connection to the area but
fulfil all the other criteria, we will refer you to the Council
where you do have a local connection. There are exceptions to this
for instance if you are fleeing violence from the area you are
connected to.
You can find further information on accomodation on our tips on looking for accomodation page.
