We will work with you to try to prevent you becoming homeless or try to delay it until an alternative can be found. This may be through information, guidance or more in depth support.

These are some examples of the work we do:-

• Negotiations or mediation with whoever you rent from or live with so that you can stay there until you can find somewhere else to live.
• Tell you your rights as a lodger or tenant
• Housing Options advice to help you find somewhere else to live.
• Help with applications for Housing and Council Tax Benefit. If you already have these benefits but there is a shortfall, we may be able to help you apply for something called Discretionary Housing Payments.
• Refer you for debt counselling advice if you need it
• Refer you for supported housing
• Refer you for housing related support
• Help you if you are experiencing domestic violence problems
• Help to find / overcome difficulties in getting other accommodation.

It is very important that you think about different ways to try and prevent your homelessness or to find somewhere else to live

If you cannot carry on living where you are and we have reason to believe you are or may be threatened with homelessness we will consider your circumstances under the Homelessness law. Under this we will assess whether you are:

• Eligible for assistance
  Most people will be eligible for assistance. However some people subject to immigration control and other persons from abroad may not be.
• Homeless or threatened with homelessness
  This means if you have nowhere legally available to stay that is reasonable to do so, or you will lose your home within 28 days.
• In Priority Need
  This means if you fall into one of the priority categories set out in the homelessness law.
• Intentionally Homeless
  This means that you have done or failed to do something that has caused you to lose your home.
• Local connection
  This means if you have a certain connection with the Wakefield district, for example, you work here.

The assessment can take some time to complete and we will write to you to tell you of our decision on whether we have a duty to provide you with somewhere to live.

• You may be offered somewhere to live on a temporary basis whilst we carry out your homeless assessment. However, we will only do this if we have reason to believe that you may be eligible for assistance, homeless, and in priority need.
• If temporary accommodation is offered, there will be a charge for its use, and only one offer of this type of accommodation will be made. We cannot usually be flexible about where or what type of accommodation is offered and you may have to share toilet and bathroom facilities with others living there too.
• A good standard of behaviour is expected from those living in temporary accommodation. If your behaviour was unacceptable you would be asked to leave.

We can only help you if you meet the requirements under the Homelessness law. We no longer own any housing. This was transferred to an independent Housing Association called Wakefield and District Housing. If you want to be considered for one of their homes you will need to fill one of their application forms.

We can provide you with advice and help on how to go about to finding your own housing. Please see or ask for our Housing Options leaflet or speak to a member of staff for more specific advice.

If you are sleeping rough our Rough Sleeper Support Worker may be able to help you. They are also based at the Open Door Project.

If we do not offer you somewhere temporary to live or arrange longer term housing under the Homelessness law and you are unhappy with our decision you can ask for a review. We will tell you how you can do this in the letter we send you.

The Homelessness Law does not automatically mean that we must provide you with a permanent or temporary home. In some cases it may mean that we can only offer advice on how to find your own place to live.

Homelessness is not an easy or quick way of getting a Housing Association tenancy. Homelessness often means that if accommodation is offered you may have a long stay in temporary accommodation, and less choice and control over where you live in the longer term. Only one offer is made to those who we have a full duty to house, and any offer made may not be from the landlord of your choice.

If you have a housing problem it is very important that you consider all options to prevent or resolve your homelessness. Please don’t assume that Wakefield Council will, or has to provide housing for you.