Homelessness Support: Emergency Help and Local Council Duty

Under the **Housing Act 1996** and the **Homelessness Reduction Act**, local councils in England have a strict legal duty to help people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness within **56 days**.

When you contact your local authority for help, they will assess your situation to determine what level of assistance they must provide:

• The Prevention Duty: If you are at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days (for example, if you have received a valid eviction notice), the council must take reasonable steps to help you stay in your current home or find a new one.
• The Relief Duty: If you are already homeless, the council must help you secure accommodation for at least 6 months.
• Priority Need: The council has a duty to provide immediate emergency temporary accommodation if they have reason to believe you are homeless, eligible for assistance, and in **Priority Need**.

If you are facing homelessness, follow these steps to secure assistance:

1. Contact Your Local Council: Find your local authority's housing options team. You can usually apply online or visit their offices in person. If you are roofless tonight, ask for their **emergency duty officer**.
2. Gather Key Documents: To speed up the assessment, try to provide: proof of identity (passport, driving licence, birth certificate), proof of your eligibility (citizenship or immigration status documents), evidence of homelessness (eviction notices, tenancy agreements, court orders, or letters from family/friends asking you to leave), and proof of priority need (children's birth certificates, pregnancy notes, medical letters, or prescription histories).
3. Receive a Personalised Housing Plan (PHP): The council will work with you to write a PHP, which outlines the steps both you and the council must take to find or keep accommodation.

If you need emergency shelter tonight or are worried about someone sleeping rough:

• StreetLink: If you are sleeping on the street (or want to report someone who is), use the **StreetLink** website or app. This alerts local outreach teams who can locate the person and connect them with local services and shelters.
• Shelter England: Contact the housing charity Shelter for expert, free advice. Their national helpline (**0808 800 4440**) is open 365 days a year for urgent housing crises.
• Emergency Hostels and Day Centres: Local charities and faith groups often run night shelters, soup kitchens, and day centres where you can get warm food, showers, and advice.