Are You Homeless?

If you believe you are about to be made, or are already homeless you need to know if you qualify for assistance. This will depend on your individual circumstances.

The Housing Act 1996 Part VII sets out the legal duties a local authority should have for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

If you feel you are at risk of homelessness, please use our drop in service. Information on opening times are set out below.

Who can use the service?

Anyone who feels they are at risk of being homeless, and living in the Daventry District. The service is free and open to the public, regardless of what type of accommodation you are currently in; tenants, homeowners, people sharing accommodation.

Homeless Directory

Daventry District Council and South Northamptonshire Council have worked together to compile this comprehensive Homeless Directory. It contains the contact details for all the relevant agencies that can offer advice and assistance to people who are or maybe homeless.

There are also independent charities like Shelter that can offer advice and help. Visit the Shelter web site or call 0808 800 4444.

Other Prevention Methods

Mortgage Rescue Scheme

Homeowners experiencing difficulty in meeting their mortgage payments may be eligible for help through the Government’s Mortgage Rescue Scheme (MRS). The scheme is for vulnerable households at risk of homelessness as a result of repossession. There are eligibility criteria attached to the scheme.

Homes to Stay

The Home to Stay scheme is set up to help individuals or families, who are either homeless, or threatened with homelessness, to find accommodation through the private rented sector. There are eligibility criteria attached to the scheme.

Information on Homelessness

If you believe you are about to be made, or are already homeless you need to know if you qualify for assistance. This will depend on your individual circumstances.

The Housing Act 1996 Part VII sets out the legal duties a local authority should have for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.

The council has to look into your circumstances to decide whether you are in priority need for emergency accommodation.

The authority has a responsibility to find you somewhere to live providing that you satisfy the following homelessness criteria:

                You are eligible

                You are homeless or threatened with homelessness

                You are classed as priority need

                You have not made yourself intentionally homeless

                You have a local connection

- Are you eligible?

To be eligible for assistance the authority will require evidence that you are entitled to reside in the UK.

- Are you homeless or threatened with homelessness?

If you / your family have nowhere to reside or are at risk of having nowhere to live within 28days, then you would be classed as homeless. This could also be the case if you are at risk of violence, you live somewhere but cannot gain access to it, you no longer have a legal right to the property, its not reasonable for you to occupy due to disrepair.

- Are you Priority Need?

You are considered to be in priority need if:

            You or a member of your family is pregnant

            You have dependant children in your full time care

            You are vulnerable due to old age, ill health or a disability, coming out of prison or fleeing domestic violence. Also those that are considered as being vulnerable after leaving the armed forces or have been in care.

            You are homeless due to an emergency e.g. flood, fire

            You are aged between 18 and 21 but have previously been in care

The council won't automatically consider you to be vulnerable if you fit one of these categories. For example, the council may decide that you are not vulnerable if you have an illness but it can be controlled by medication, or if you are over 60 but are in good health. However, you may be vulnerable for other reasons. Make sure you tell the council about any personal circumstances that make it difficult for you to deal with your housing situation.

- Are you intentionally homeless?

The council may conclude that you are intentionally homeless based on aspects that could have been avoided, for instance:

- You had somewhere to occupy that was reasonable for you to continue to occupy, but chose to leave

                - You contrived an eviction by asking your landlord to give you notice

                - You were evicted for a breach of your tenancy agreement or involved in anti-social behaviour

If your homelessness was not intentional, then you would satisfy this criteria.

- Do you have a local connection?

In most cases the council will only house you if you have a connection to the area you are applying.

Important note on homelessness:

If you were to apply to the authority on homelessness grounds each of the criteria will need to be fully satisfied. This would mean that the council will ask for information from you, failure to provide information requested may put your application at risk. The council will sometimes make enquires to other authorities or agencies to gain information.