Homelessness

How we can help

Contact us on 0808 178 0939 if you are homeless, or likely to be homeless. We will:

• assess your housing situation
• work out what your needs are
• give you advice on the next steps to take.

We will help you develop a personalised housing and wellbeing plan, which sets out what actions we will both take to prevent or relieve your homelessness.

Watch the video to find out more. 

Step-by-step guide

Read Shelter’s step-by-step guide about how to get support from the Council if you are homeless or facing homelessness within eight weeks. The guide tells you about:

1. how we can help
2. how to ask us for help
3. homeless assessments
4. personal housing plans
5. who qualifies for housing
6. challenging a decision.

Financial support

If you are having financial problems, we may be able to help you:

• budget, manage your money and maximise your income
• with benefit changes, such as universal credit, benefit caps or local housing allowance
• find a job
• with a deposit for private rented accommodation.

Financial help will be available as part of your personalised housing and wellbeing plan.

Finding a Home

For information on renting and finding a home, visit our website.

Emergency accommodation

Emergency accommodation is in the form of hostels. You can access some of hostels directly without needing a referral.

• Search for emergency accommodation on Homeless Link.
• Call Shelter's free housing advice helpline on 0808 800 4444 to find services near you.
• AKT supports young LGBTQ people with housing
  
• If our offices are closed, call our out-of-hours number on 020 8314 7007 for emergency housing advice and assistance.

Partners and duty to refer

Some public organisations (such jobcentres, A&E and probation services) must refer homeless people, or people at risk of homelessness, to us. This is called duty to refer.

Refer someone to us. 

Related pages

• Applying for council housing
• Renting
• Affordable ways to buy a home

Documents

Useful websites