Homelessness

It's a growing concern that there are young people whose housing needs are not being met. Find out here what you can do if you, or someone you know is homeless.

Being homeless is not just about living on the street. You may be homeless, or roofless, if you are staying with friends or family that can no longer keep you.

There may have been a breakdown in relationships within a family home causing you to move out. Or you may be staying in a place that is overcrowded and endangering your health?

You may be deemed 'homeless' if you are:

• sleeping on the streets
• temporarily staying with friends or family
• staying in a hostel or bed and breakfast hotel
• living in overcrowded conditions
• at risk of violence in your home 
• living in poor conditions that affect your health.

Want to talk to someone straight away? Call Shelter free on 0808 800 4444 as they can give you lots of information and advice to help you.

What To Do

1. First up, speak to somebody who can give you advice:

• If you are under 16, go to the Social Work office and they will help you
• If you have been looked after (in care), the Council can offer extra help. For information contact Shelter on 0808 800 4444
• If you are 16 or over, you can make your own decisions - the Council shouldn’t tell your parents or relatives what is happening unless you want them to.

2. Secondly go to the Council Social Work Department, or Housing department. Tell them you are homeless or have to leave wherever you’re staying. They should interview you - this will probably be done by housing staff.

You might have to wait for them to consider your situation. If you need somewhere to stay in the meantime, tell this to the Council staff. If they believe you may be homeless, they must provide you with temporary accommodation. This includes bed & breakfasts, hostels and temporary furnished flats, although the Council may use other types of properties too.

Priority Need

If the Council decides that you are homeless and 'in priority need', they should offer you permanent accommodation. This can include properties rented by the Council or Housing Association, or private property.

You might have to wait for them to consider your case, but you should be treated as 'in priority need' if you:

• are under 18
• have children or are pregnant
• have mental or physical health problems
• have a disability
• are at risk from violence, abuse or exploitation

There are other reasons why you might be in priority need so tell them as much as possible during your interview.

If the Council don’t accept you as 'in priority need', but are considered homeless, you still have a right to temporary accommodation for a reasonable period of time while they provide you with advice and assistance to help you find somewhere more permanent to stay.

If they say you are not homeless, or 'in priority need', or that you are intentionally homeless, you may appeal if you disagree. You can also appeal if you think the offer of permanent accommodation was unreasonable. The Council has a duty to provide you with temporary accommodation until the appeal has been decided.

Emergency Accommodation

If you are in a position where you are looking for short-term or emergency accommodation call the Shelter free on 0808 800 4444 (Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm) as they have a list of homeless accommodation in Scotland that may be able to help you out. They will also explain your rights and tell you what your options are.

More...

Shelter Scotland- For more information or advice phone the nice people at Shelter for free on 0808 800 4444. You can also visit the Shelter Scotland: Homelessness website.

Last modified: 14/01/2010 13:29:00