Should I make a homeless application or a general housing application, what’s the difference?

You do not have to be living on the streets to be considered homeless. You may be legally classed as homeless if you are disabled and unable to return home because your property is no longer accessible, or if you are living in your own home but it is not suitable for you to live in independently. If this applies to you, it is important that you make a homelessness application.

There are three stages to the homelessness process:

1. Prevention Duty – At this stage, the Council will work with you to try to prevent homelessness from occurring.
2. Relief Duty – If homelessness cannot be prevented, the Council will take steps to relieve your homelessness. At this stage, you may be offered temporary accommodation.
3. Main Duty – This is the final stage. If the Council accepts Main Duty, it means they have accepted full responsibility for rehousing you.

Adapted temporary accommodation is limited. If you are accepted as homeless, the Council has a duty to ensure you have somewhere to stay temporarily. Due to the shortage of adapted accommodation, the Council may sometimes make a “Homeless at Home” decision. This means you will remain in your current accommodation, but the Council accepts that you are legally homeless. You will therefore be given priority, and alternative accommodation will be offered when suitable housing becomes available.

The Council may also assess whether you are eligible to be included on the housing register for permanent housing. To maximise your housing options, it is strongly advised that you submit a housing register application alongside your homelessness application.

If you think you may be considered homeless and you are currently in a Spinal Injury Centre, you should speak to your Discharge Officer or Case Manager. Alternatively, you can contact your local authority housing team, who can help you understand your current housing situation and needs.