The Housing Advice Team provides free housing advice. We aim to prevent homelessness by offering advice and assistance to allow you to remain in your own home or we may be able to help secure alternative accommodation by looking at all housing options. A Housing Officer will work with you to try and prevent you from becoming homeless or to relieve your homelessness.
The Housing Advice Team works in accordance with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014
Who do I contact if I have a housing issue?
Pembrokeshire County Council Office hours:
Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Contact the Duty Housing Officer on 01437 764551 or via e-mail housingadvice@pembrokeshire.gov.uk
If you are going to be homeless that night, please visit the Duty Housing Officer at North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP.
Outside of Pembrokeshire County Council Office hours
Friday 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. on Monday.
Contact the Duty Social Worker from the Out of Hours Team on 03003 332222
What is homelessness?
‘You may be homeless if you’re sleeping rough, don’t have rights to stay where you are or you live in unsuitable housing. Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless.’ (Sheltercymru, 2018)
What situation counts as being homeless?
You don’t have to be sleeping on the streets to be classed as homeless. You might also be legally homeless if you are:
What if I am homeless tonight?
If you are considered to be homeless that night, the duty officer may offer you the following options;
*Please note, this list is not exhaustive and will depend on your circumstances.
What can the Council do to help me with my housing problems?
A Housing Officer may be able to help you with:
Who else might be able to help me with a Housing problem?
The following organisations work alongside the Council and the service it has a statutory duty to provide, and may be able to help or support you with your housing problems.
Shelter Cymru
Shelter Cymru Head Office, 25 Walter Road, Swansea, SA1 5NN
Tel: 0345 075 5005
Website: Shelter Cymru
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 9:30am – 4pm
Pembrokeshire Care Society
19 Market Street, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1NF
E-mail: pcs@pembrokeshirecaresociety.org.uk
Tel: 01437 765335 Free phone: 0800 783 5001
Website: Pembrokeshire Care Society
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 10am- 4pm
PATCH
PATCH HQ, The Old School, Waterloo Road, Hakin, Milford Haven, SA73 3PB
Email: contact@patchcharity.org.uk or tracy@patchcharity.org.uk
Tel: 01646 699275 Monday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 9am - 2pm
Mob: 07775571431 Monday – Friday from 9am – 4pm
Website: Patch Charity
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 10am – 2pm
Citizens Advice Bureau
43 Cartlett, Haverfordwest, SA61 2LH or 38 Meyrick St, Pembroke Dock SA72 6UT
Email: advice@pembscab.org
Local Tel: 01437 806070 / National Helpline: 0344 477 2020
Website: Pembrokeshire CAB or Citizens Advice Bureau
Homeless or threatened with homelessness
You would need to attend an appointment with a Housing Officer who would help you to fill in a Housing Needs Assessment to assess your housing need – this is a known as Section 62 Assessment as per The Housing (Wales) Act 2014. You can be accompanied to your appointment by a friend, family member, advocate or support worker.
You would need to bring the following documents with you (or make arrangements with the Housing Officer to provide this information at an agreed later date):
*Please note that this list is not an exhaustive list and the Housing Officer can provide further details as required.
Please see the for further information on what to expect at your appointment.
What happens after my appointment?
Your Housing Officer will then make a decision in line with the Housing (Wales) Act 2014 legislation which will be based on the information provided in your Housing Needs Assessment and any further enquiries made by your Housing Officer. This decision will determine what help or assistance, the Local Authority has a duty to provide you with, if any. The decision may be one of the following:-
What will my Housing Officer and I do to resolve my Housing problems?
Create a Personal Housing Plan with tasks that you and your Housing Officer will need to do in order to help you find suitable, sustainable and affordable accommodation. This will detail the reasonable steps that you would both need to take in accordance with the relevant legislation. These could include:
*Please note that this list is not exhaustive and your Personal Housing Plan will be based on your individual circumstances and regularly updated as required.