Homeless People

1. Introduction
2. What do I do if I am or about to be made homeless?
3. What information will I need to provide?
4. How will the Council decide if I am eligible for help?
5. How will the Council decide if I am homeless?
6. How will the Council decide whether I am priority need?
7. What happens if I am found to be in Priority Need?
8. How will the Council decide if I am homeless intentionally?
9. How will the Council decide if I have a local connection to Pembrokeshire?
10. Will I get temporary accommodation?
11. How long is temporary accommodation provided for?
12. What if I do not agree with the decision made by the Council about my homelessness?

1. Introduction

If you think you are homeless you could qualify for help from our homelessness service - from support and advice, to temporary accommodation and to finding somewhere to live.
The Council is required by law to make a number of enquiries about your situation. This process is started when you make an application for housing and indicate that you are homeless.
Each homeless case is different. The enquiries the Council will make depend on your circumstances.
The following sections will guide you through the homelessness process.

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2. What do I do if I am or am about to be made homeless?

You will need to make a homeless application with the Council. To do this you can make an appointment to see a housing options advisor at one of our offices at:

- North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest
- Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock
- Milford Haven Town Hall
- Fishguard Town Hall

To make an appointment please phone 01437 764551.

If you need help more quickly - for example, you have nowhere to stay immediately, then a duty officer works every week day from 9.30am to 12.30pm and then 1.30pm to 4.30pm at North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest.
You can call at the office without an appointment, but if you do this, there may be a wait to see an officer depending on how busy we are.

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3. What Information will I need to provide?

You should bring in any information, which may help the Council to understand your current circumstances. This could include your tenancy agreement, written notice which your landlord has given you to end your tenancy, or letters from your mortgage company if your home has been repossessed, court orders etc.
You may also be asked to provide proof of identity and income. You should bring two forms of identification.
These will help us consider your application as quickly as possible and provide you with a decision about the help you are likely to receive.

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4. How will the Council decide if I am eligible for help?

You may not be eligible for assistance if:

• you have not lived in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the last 5 years, and you are not considered to be a settled resident here or
• you are a European national in breach of a 'Residence Directive' or
• you have claimed asylum since arriving in this country from abroad or as you entered this country your application is still being considered by the Home Office or
• you are an illegal immigrant or
• you have overstayed your leave to live in the UK or
• you have limited leave to remain in this country (for example students and visitors), and are not allowed to claim public help with money or accommodation.
  This is a complicated area of enquiry, and you be advised in more detail, if applicable.
• If you are an asylum seeker and not eligible for housing, we can still advise you of other agencies which may be able to help you.

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5. How will the Council decide if I am homeless?

You may be homeless if:

• you have no accommodation you are legally entitled to occupy or
• it is agreed that it is not reasonable for you to live in your accommodation or
• you have accommodation, but you cannot gain entry to it or
• you face violence/harassment or
• you are at risk of violence/harassment or
• you live in a place like a houseboat or caravan, and there is nowhere for you to place it and live in it.

You may be 'threatened with homelessness' if you are going to lose your accommodation within 28 days.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your circumstances, e.g. the notice served by your landlord.

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6. How will the Council decide whether I am priority need?

You may be in priority need if you:

• have at least one dependant child or
• are pregnant or
• have become homeless because of domestic violence or
• have become homeless as a result of a disaster such as fire or flood or
• are vulnerable because of one of the following reasons:
  • old age
  • being 16 or 17 years old
  • being between 18 and 21 and previously in care
  • mental illness or handicap
  • physical disability
  • being a victim of violence or harassment
  • being a former member of the Armed Forces
  • being a former prisoner
  • any other special reason

If you are found to be in priority need it means that you will be seen as a priority for re-housing.

Priority need also applies to people who normally live with you or anyone who we accept should reasonably be expected to live with you.

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7. What happens if I am found to be in priority need?

If you are eligible, homeless and in priority need then the Council must ensure you are offered suitable temporary accommodation whilst it completes its other enquiries.

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8. How will the Council decide if I am homeless intentionally?

The Council may say that you are intentionally homeless if you have become homeless because of your own unreasonable actions.

If you are homeless and in priority need, but are intentionally homeless, the Council has a limited duty to provide you with temporary accommodation whilst you find your own accommodation.
Examples of intentional homelessness:

• if you voluntarily gave up your accommodation, either in the UK or abroad, and it would have been considered reasonable for you to continue to live there
• if you are evicted for rent or mortgage arrears, in circumstances where there is no good reason for non-payment
• if you are evicted for anti-social behaviour, such as harassment or drug-dealing
• if you chose to sell your house without good reason
• if you chose to give up employment, which included accommodation, for no good reason.

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9. How will the Council decide if I have a local connection to Pembrokeshire?

To have a local connection, you must have:

• lived in Pembrokeshire for 3 years out of the last 5 years or
• lived in Pembrokeshire for 6 months out of the last 12 months or
• have permanent employment in Pembrokeshire or
• close relatives who have lived in Pembrokeshire for the last 5 years or
• any special circumstances which the Council accepts make you an exception to these rules.

If you have a local connection in another Council's area (and no local connection in Pembrokeshire), then Pembrokeshire may refer your homelessness application to the other Council.

If you have no local connection anywhere, then the Council may have to take responsibility for your application.

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10. Will I get temporary accommodation?

If you are homeless and eligible we will arrange temporary accommodation, either whilst the Council is making its enquiries or following its decision.

What is temporary accommodation?

There are different types of temporary accommodation that the Council uses for homeless persons

• Bed and breakfast

This is only used when there is no other suitable accommodation available and is usually used in cases of emergency only.

• Hostels

The Council has its own hostels catering for families and single women.

• Womens Aid Refuge

The Council can refer women to the refuge in Pembrokeshire and elsewhere in the country to receive specialist accommodation and support where there is domestic abuse.

• Council / housing association accommodation

Accommodation on a special homeless agreement within Council housing or housing association stock for use until the Council is able to discharge its statutory homelessness duty.

The Authority ensures that all temporary accommodation you may be offered is of a reasonable standard.

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11. How long is temporary accommodation provided for?

If you remain eligible, our duty to provide you with temporary accommodation lasts until you secure permanent housing, for example, until accommodation is secured for you within the private sector with our assistance or you are offered a suitable permanent Council or housing association tenancy.

Once you have been provided with temporary accommodation the Council will work with you to try to find a permanent home. One of the options is to make an application to Choice Homes@ Pembrokeshire for a Council or housing association home.

You will have the opportunity of taking part in the Choice Homes scheme and bidding for preferred properties but the Council will make you a direct offer of accommodation in certain circumstances

Each offer, for permanent accommodation that the Council makes to you must be suitable.

If you are offered somewhere to live which you believe is unsuitable, you can request a review of its suitability.

You have the right to request a review within 21 days of receiving the offer / notification of decision. You must make this request to the senior housing officer at North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, SA61 1TP. You can also do this by emailing the senior housing officer at homeless@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

If you wish to exercise your right to a review, you may:

1. Accept the offer of accommodation made to you and request a review of suitability.
This would be the Council's recommended action.
Moving in will not affect the review proceedings and, if successful, you will be offered alternative accommodation, or

2. Refuse the offer and request a review of its suitability.
If you refuse the offer, the property will be offered to someone else and there will be no opportunity for you to be offered it again. If you are successful in your review, the Council will still owe you a duty and you will be made a further offer of accommodation.
You will be asked to clearly state your reasons for requesting the review in writing and will be advised of the appeals procedure.
We will reach a decision as quickly as we can (although we have 8 weeks from the date that you first ask for a review).
If the review goes against you:

1. Temporary accommodation

If you had accepted the offer and moved in you won't be offered anything else and you will be expected to remain in this accommodation.

If you refused the offer and did not move in, the Council will not make an alternative offer and you would have to make your own arrangements. Your application for housing could remain active in the allocation scheme, however your homeless priority will be withdrawn.

2. Permanent accommodation

If you had previously accepted the offer of permanent accommodation you may choose to remain there. The Council will have no further duty towards you as homeless. You may however reapply for alternative housing through the Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire.

If the review goes against you and you had not accepted the offer, the Council will have no further duty towards you as homeless, and any temporary accommodation offered would be withdrawn. Your application for housing could remain registered on the Choice Homes @ Pembrokeshire housing scheme, although any additional priority awarded to your application will be withdrawn.

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12. What if I do not agree with the decision made by the Council about my homelessness?
If you are told that any of the following apply to you:

• not homeless
• not eligible
• not in priority need
• intentionally homeless
• no local connection
• homelessness duty discharged by a suitable offer; or
• your case is being referred to another Local Authority,
  then you have the right to request a review of that decision.

1. A request for a review of any decision must be made within 21 days from the date that you receive the above decision in writing.

2. The Council will take into account any information submitted by you or on your behalf

3. If you fail to submit any further detailed information, the decision will be reviewed on the basis of all relevant information already to hand.

4. The Council must normally reach a decision within 8 weeks of the date of your request.

You will be asked to clearly state your reasons for requesting the review in writing and will be advised of the appeals procedure.

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Downloads:

• Homelessness Action Plan (download 148k opens new window)

Customer Charters - What you can expect from our service
Homeless Hostels

Contact Information:

For further information please contact:

Housing options advisor
Pembrokeshire County Council
County Hall
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 1TP

Tel: 01437 764551
Fax: 01437 775495

Email: homelessness.enquiry@pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Pembrokeshire Care Society (PATH)
1 Corner House
Barn Street
Haverfordwest
Pembrokeshire
SA61 1BW

Tel: 01437 765335
Freephone 0800-783-5001.

Useful Links:

• Shelter Cymru (opens new window)
• citizensadvice.org.uk (opens new window)

ID: 13214 Revised: 2/2/2010