You might find that, after the Relief duty comes to an end, 56 days (8 weeks) after you applied to the council about your housing problem, you still haven’t got somewhere to live. any medical or physical needs you or members of your household have. When you are homeless according to the law. Check that any refusal to cooperate is actually deliberate and unreasonable given your situation. offers Freephone 24 hour support - 0808 2000 247. has an online forum, information and resources, and a directory to find local free face to face support. The council can decide that they no longer have a duty to help you if you deliberately and unreasonably refuse to cooperate with the steps set out in your Personalised Housing Plan. These are sure to make your time on the streets ten times better: Paratinder 550 Paracord2-Person Tube TentSurvival Frog Lifeshield® Bug Out Bag. Getting the right help can help you break that cycle. So, with nowhere else to go in Wolverhampton she goes to Plymouth to stay with her grandmother. … If you leave it in your pockets or in your tent overnight, you could wind up with some raccoons, squirrels and other critters trying to steal it. If it is for a week or two it is still not very high. What has to happen during these 56 days (8 weeks) is set out in your Personalised Housing Plan. For example, if the antagonist doesn’t appear to be homeless, he likely has access to a doctor’s office to get bandaged up. Before you go try and think about what you want to ask the council to do to help you. Think about what you would like the council to do to help you. Are physically disabled or have a learning disability. Wet wipes can also be used as an effective tool to clean yourself off. Do some research on local shelters and find out which ones provide social workers, addiction counseling, temporary financial assistance programs and vocational preparation. But she reminds them she can go to any council for help with housing. refused an offer of accommodation and then asked for more help. The assessment can take a couple of hours. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. If you have any comments on what you like or don't like about this guide please go to our feedback page. Unfortunately, the rest of this guide will not be useful to you. That’s because when you’re homeless you often don’t have access to medical care, and thus can’t afford to get diseases from cuts/scrapes you obtain on the street. This site offers information I never even thought about. But the majority of the homeless are couch-surfing, sleeping in cars, staying in shelters or staying at friends or families. HUD's Continuum of Care program makes grants to states, local governments and community agencies that allow each of these entities to tailor a program to meet their community's needs. The Plan is meant to be shaped around you so you can argue for things are that are specific to you. It does not mean that the council has to actually house you. It may be that someone who is already helping you, such as a social worker or probation officer, will tell the local council about your housing problem. You may already have a Personalised Housing Plan from when you went to the council for help before you ended up homeless. The location of the accommodation must be suitable for you - for example for your children’s schools, your work. The housing officer must make it clear to you which are the tasks that you have to do. You can ring the housing department and arrange an appointment for another day - this can be the best way forward as it means you probably won’t have to wait so long. Here’s a few ways that many homeless people have learned to get some extra shuteye: This is perhaps the hardest thing to master when you’re homeless, as it’s incredibly easy to become filled with rage, desperation, and depression when you’re depending on handouts and sleeping on the street. How the council works out if you are entitled to help with housing (known as the eligibility assessment). Go to the Gov.uk website to work out if you are. This is useful as it means that you can get another chance to explain your situation and ask for different support that will hopefully make things better for you. The council may say you have made yourself intentionally homeless if you: But, the law doesn’t say these situations automatically mean you have made yourself intentionally homeless, so you can argue this with the council. you have a home but it is unreasonable for you to occupy it, for example, because it is in a very poor state of repair or because it is so overcrowded. The council decides she is homeless as she cannot stay at her friend’s for long and has nowhere else to go. While she is in emergency accommodation the council help her to find somewhere to live. We will use your feedback to seek funding and improve our guides and make sure they are as helpful as possible. Plus, this will also help you gain friendships and handouts from others, as people typically respond more positively to someone that looks clean and put-together. At first they tell her she must go back to Wolverhampton. The contact details to do this appear on the website after you have put in your information about your financial situation. Citizens Advice is the national body for Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB). to not have made yourself intentionally homeless, to be in priority need (for a reminder on this go to. left your home in another country to come to the UK. Proof of any medical condition you have, such as a letter from your doctor or hospital or copies of your prescriptions. About three-quarters of them are homeless for less than two months , using shelters only once or twice the entire time. Is there anything you can do to make life better for a homeless person? To decide if you are deliberately and unreasonably refusing to cooperate the council must: The council has to give you a warning notice to remind you of what you need to do. Examples of the type of help the council might give you: Examples of the steps you might be asked to take: Do the things set out in your Plan! This might mean that, if you agree, your housing officer works with your support worker or social worker, if you have one. Peroxide, band-aids, and antibiotic ointment can go a long way to helping you stay alive. Only certain people fall into the group of being in priority need. If you are still homeless when the 56 days (8 weeks) comes to an end you might actually get housed by the council. Do you have a strong focus? Think of the last angry, belligerent homeless person you saw on the street. After all, at the end of the day the only thing that we can control is ourselves, and so our perspective/actions needs to reflect a positive, hopeful outlook. Please note that if you really and truly feel led to give someone money, then do so. Doing so will help you become better adjusted to living on the streets, and will make you more mindful of what it takes to survive. We hope you found this guide helpful. If you are provided with accommodation straight away, it is likely to be called emergency accommodation. The more uses you can come up with for your clothing, the better off you’ll be (and the less stuff you’ll have to carry around). A good problem solver? Chips are a bad idea, as they’re full of empty calories and don’t fill you up. It supports 170 legal advice clinics across England and Wales. They can only do this if you give them your permission. Start by contacting Shelter. You can call Shelter for telephone advice about your housing problem for free. “Do you feel safe?” If the person responds that they don’t feel safe, get to a place where you can make a non-emergency phone call to the local police department. Shelter also has advice centres across England where you can go to get personal, face-to-face advice from a housing specialist. When I was homeless there was one activity which preoccupied me; survival. You can apply to any council for help but it makes sense to apply to your local council. That means the council has to help you for 56 days (8 weeks) to find somewhere to live but they don’t have to provide you with actual housing. Homeless people have learned a lot of crucial information about how to survive in a broken world and with limited handouts; that’s why it’s imperative we learn from them to see how they’re able to survive. Proof of your pregnancy, such as a letter from your midwife or your MATB1 form. If your first language isn't English, they can arrange access to a telephone interpreter. Women’s aid has an online forum, information and resources, and a directory to find local free face to face support. National Centre for Domestic Violence provides a free, fast emergency injunction service to survivors of domestic violence regardless of their financial circumstances, race, gender or sexual orientation. A good way best to help your family member is to find a program that will give her the tools to improve her own life. Instead, calmly explain what you want. We use cookies to make sure that you get the best experience on our website. You can show you have a local connection if: You might find that the council says you need to be living in the area for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years. Remember, were all in this together! From outside the EU but allowed to claim benefits. If you find somewhere to live before the 8 weeks are up the council’s duty to help you ends then. Before you leave make sure you understand what will happen next. Using that wording makes it harder for the local authority to ignore the letter. Stage 1 - The duty to provide you with accommodation straight away, Stage 1- The duty to provide you with accomodation straight away, How to challenge the decision about your homelessness, How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application, Stage 3 - the help the council has to give you - the Relief duty. Get to know the businesses and streets around you, and navigate the area as much as possible before settling down. Required fields are marked *. you are sleeping rough on the streets or staying out all night for example on night buses. Ask to see the paperwork to be sure and get a copy for your own record. 16 Homeless Survival Tips For How To Survive On The Streets 1 – Newspaper Is Your Friend. Call charges apply when you ring CLA but you can get them to call you for free. It can be very hard to prove you or a member of your household are vulnerable. Everyone has the right to make an application for help with a housing problem. For example, you are not intentionally homeless if: Even if the council is providing you with emergency or temporary accommodation, if the Relief duty comes to an end and you are not in permanent accommodation, the council can refuse to help you for much longer if you have made yourself “intentionally homeless”. If your situation changes the housing officer should make sure your Personalised Housing Plan is updated. Or, you might prefer to go straight to the council’s housing office without an appointment but they may ask you to come back another day or you may have to wait for many hours to be seen. They also come in resealable containers, which is crucial when you’re living on the streets. The question of how to help a homeless person on the streets is not always an easy one, and while some general answers are outlined below, the best place to start is by remembering the humanity of each man or woman you see in a public place. We try to explain any legal language as we go along but there is also a section at the end of the guide called ‘What does it mean?’  that explains some important legal language we have used. The council cannot make an accurate decision about your case without all the information that shows you are vulnerable. To donate just go to our donation page. Your job is to find yours. Toothbrush and toothpaste. It is very important that you persuade them to give you this if you can. Be sure to choose clothing options that have lots of pockets for storage, and that are neutral colors such as black, grey or tan. Homelessness puts an enormous strain on mental health with long hours of loneliness, isolation and sleep deprivation. Treat each and every person with dignity – … The council must inspect the accommodation and check out a long list of requirements before you move in. You can also find a solicitor who does housing law or a housing adviser on the Gov.uk website. When and how to contact the council for help. Search online for ‘women’s aid’. A survival guide to what to do if you are homeless, When you are homeless according to the law, When and how to get help from the council, Stage 1 - the duty to provide you with accommodation straight away, Stage 3 - the help the council has to give you - the 'Relief duty', Your assessment and Personalised Housing Plan, How to avoid being classed as intentionally homeless, What ‘deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate’ means, What happens when the Relief duty comes to an end. When you can get accommodation straight away. Make sure you explain politely that you know you have the right to make an application for help with housing. See if these are useful too: How to challenge the council about your homelessness application. Read this guide through a couple of times so you know what your rights are before you get there. So, that’s seven things you can give to the homeless instead of money. If you are told you are not entitled to housing assistance because of your immigration status you might want to get more help and advice to see if this decision is correct. Find out more about when social services must house you. Homeless people use newspaper for a multitude of purposes in order to survive. They’re also great for decreasing depression and anxiety, and can provide you a friend to care for and bond with when you’re feeling alone in the world. This is only if you meet certain conditions. What the council must do to help you when you are homeless - known as the ‘Relief duty’. But you might also ponder the situation, thinking to yours It is almost always better to accept an offer of accommodation to start with whether or not you think it is suitable; you can challenge it after you accept it and hopefully get somewhere better. For example, you are classed as homeless if: As soon as you are homeless you need to contact your local council’s housing department. Accommodation that the council offers you, or that you find with help from the council, must be suitable for you and all the members of your household. Take a look at our guide How to challenge the decision about your homelessness application for more help. Friendly stray dogs can make great companions when you’re living on the streets, and can actually benefit you in multiple ways. you could not pay the rent, or mortgage, because you didn’t have enough money. They have decided they are: So, this means they must be offered accommodation by the council under what is sometimes called the ‘Full’ duty. LawWorks is a charity that connects people in need of legal advice and assistance with lawyers willing to meet those needs for free. If you agree to someone else making a referral for you it is important you check it contains everything the council needs to know about your situation. Check that you are not struggling to cooperate because of a mental health or communication condition. To work out if your local council has a duty to help you or not they will need to carry out an assessment. For instance, cops can come and shoo you away, another homeless group might come and kick you out, or the city may begin construction directly where you’ve set up camp. What ‘deliberate and unreasonable refusal to cooperate’ means. These are only open on the coldest nights. It may also help for receiving food and other handouts, as you’ll become a familiar face to the passersby. Need more info? Proof of your children’s identity, such as their birth certificates and your child benefit letter. For instance, most shelters do not serve three meals a day. Regardless of what your greeting may be, it’s important to look … Often at this early stage the council will try and turn you away if they don’t think you have what is known as a ‘local connection’. First the housing officer will ask you questions to work out if you are eligible for housing assistance. Iris is 17 years old and has fallen out with her sister who she was living with in Wolverhampton, where she was born. Sleeping on the streets is a whole … Ask them to say in the letter that if you are made homeless you would be substantially more vulnerable than an ordinary person who was made homeless, because of one of the reasons above. Also, be sure to keep the stuff you do have well-hidden. It’s also helpful to keep a pack of water purification tablets on you to help make the water drinkable if you get it from somewhere not from a tap (i.e: lakes, rivers, etc.). How the council works out if you are entitled to help with housing (known as the eligibility assessment). If you don’t know whether there is one, ask your local council if they know of any. Try to stay calm and polite, but be firm too about getting the help you need. I think that if you think you are going to become homeless, you should probably check in with a social worker to see if there are any programs you can qualify for. Were you more willing to help them out, or the one that was kind? Help you find private rented accommodation. The council must make arrangements with the council they are referring you to so that they can continue with your application. Read our blog here to discover how you can cope (and survive) despite the setbacks. Local council housing departments are very busy places so if you decide to go without making an appointment first it is very important to get there early in the day. On top of counselling, try to sleep and make sure you eat. For one, they can protect you from thieves, and can provide you extra warmth while you’re sleeping. Helpline: 0808 808 4000 – open Monday – Friday 9am-8pm, and Saturday 9.30am-1pm. Answer: HUD administers a series of programs that address homelessness in the United States. Do you like to learn? Make sure you take all the information you can to show the council what your housing needs are. We will talk about what this is next. Call: 0800 970 2070. But, it doesn’t mean they will be given permanent accommodation straight away, because there is a shortage of housing. Look for postings around town that will tell you which buildings are designated. One way is to recognize your own innate resources. If you can find a housing adviser before you go to your assessment see if they can write you a letter saying why they think the council has a duty to help you and what help you need. So, it is really important to do the things agreed in your Personalised Housing Plan otherwise you might find that the council decides it no longer has to help you with your housing needs. The information in this guide to England only. Housing assistance - this is the help the council has to give you in relation to your housing problem. If you’re aged 16 to 17 or you’ve recently been living in care, social services usually have to help you with housing. If it is going to be somewhere you stay for one or two nights the standard is low. This means that the council must help you find suitable accommodation. Ultimately, it’s up to that specific person to use that money for good. the state of repair and safety standards. Make sure you can stay there all day if you need to, for example, by making arrangements for your children to be looked after by someone else. When you are homeless according to the law, When and how to contact the council for help. For 56 days (8 weeks) the council must help them with their housing problem under the duty called the ‘Relief duty’. There will be negatives to all aspects of living options as long as we are not in a comfortable place to call our own. can be found at your local supermarket or gas station, and shelters can provide you a shower to clean up in. Now I’m sure that we can agree that most of us wouldn’t CHOOSE to be homeless; however, there are a surprising amount of homeless survival tips out there for how to survive on the streets. To use the internet when you’re homeless, you should get a library card at a public library that has lots of computers. With rent forbearance programs and mortgage assistance programs ending for many Americans, the threat of homelessness is becoming a reality for many. If you have a little money, you can also invest in … We would be grateful if you could tell us what you think of this information by completing our Feedback survey. When you do have the means to buy some food, you need to choose very carefully. But you should receive reasonable notice if you are in emergency or temporary accommodation - usually around 28 days. Try and work out what it is you want before you go for your assessment - for example, help with a deposit and getting a private rented home. You are aged 18, 19 or 20 and a care leaver. Purchase a couple water bottles at the store (bigger is better) and keep these with you at all times. What ‘suitable’ means depends on how long you have to stay in the accommodation. Or say “hi” or “hello” or try to acknowledge the person in some way. they have a local connection as they both grew up in Bristol (this means that they should not be referred to another council). Just be prepared. You’ll likely be the one they come after to get it for themselves. You can ask any council for help if you are homeless. If the council won’t let you make a homeless application or they refuse to give you emergency housing contact your nearest Citizens advice to get help. Lots of councils now have such a shortage of housing and resources generally that the reception staff will often try and send you away as soon as you arrive. Here are more homeless survival tips from a real homeless person: The fact is, whether we like it or not, homelessness is a daily reality for millions of Americans nationwide. Get counselling for any issues you might have, it is a traumatic event to become homeless and is often a cycle with people going in and out of homelessness throughout their lives. Proof of your income, such as bank statements, pay slips and all benefits (for example a recent benefits letter). This is your chance to tell the housing officer what has happened and what you now need help with. You will be asked questions about: To find out if you can get help from the council you need to go through different stages. To find a lawyer that specialises in housing law try the Gov.uk website or HLPA website. The council’s duty ends that day. “I was very satisfied with the shopping experience: prices, selection, payment options, etc and will certainly use your store again in the future.”, “We have purchased several items over time from your business. At this point you may have been housed in emergency or temporary accommodation by the council or you may still be in the same situation you were when you first contacted the council for help. Street-savvy? If the accommodation is private rented and is being offered to you because you are in priority need it has to meet higher standards. All Rights Reserved. It tells you everything you need to know about what the council must do to help you. Keep up the good stuff. Yourself and your household. If you are sleeping rough, refer you to specialist services, or sometimes use a discretionary power to find you some accommodation. This is to do with your immigration status. A crucial way to survive in almost any scenario is to blend in with your surroundings. Mary has to call them and ask what happens next. You can also get help from law centres who employ solicitors and other workers who specialise in helping people with housing, employment, immigration, education, community care, and benefit problems. They are not allowed to send you away. In the end she will be found somewhere to stay on a long term basis. The council must take into account: For example accommodation that is overcrowded or does not have proper fire safety arrangements in place is not likely to be suitable.