You don’t have to be living on the street to be regarded as homeless. You may be legally classed as homeless if you are sleeping on a friend’s sofa, staying in a hostel, or suffering from overcrowding or other bad conditions. Homelessness can often be avoided if you act quickly and get the right help.
Avoiding homelessness
Getting help and advice at an early stage can often prevent you becoming homeless and there are a number of agencies you can go to for help and advice. There are trained housing advisors who can go through your housing options with you to see which solution is the best for you, taking your personal circumstances and housing situation into account.
Where to get help
- Shelter – free national helpline and advice centre.
- Citizens Advice Bureau – national network providing free advice on a number of subjects including housing.
- Local council – has a duty to provide advice on homelessness and how to prevent it.
- Social services – has a duty to help certain individuals who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
- Law centre – offers free legal advice.
Emergency housing
If you need a place for tonight there are a number of different options. However, in many areas there is not enough emergency housing available and it may be difficult to get a place.
- Hostels and night shelters
- Women’s Refuge
- Night stop schemes.
You will find more detailed advice on emergency housing or any other related topic mentioned above by clicking on the web link at the bottom of the page.
workplacewellbeing.com assumes no responsibility for the content of linked websites.
