Help if you鈥檙e homeless or about to become homeless

In England, your council must help if you鈥檙e legally homeless or will become homeless within the next 8 weeks.

You can also get , or .

You may be legally homeless if:

  • you鈥檝e no legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world
  • you cannot get into your home, for example your landlord has locked you out
  • it鈥檚 not reasonable to stay in your home, for example you鈥檙e at risk of violence or abuse
  • you鈥檙e forced to live apart from your family or people you normally live with because there鈥檚 no suitable accommodation for you
  • you鈥檙e living in very poor conditions such as overcrowding

Find your council

Find your council to get help and advice.

What help you can get

There are different types of support your council could offer you. For example, they may offer you advice, emergency housing, support to find longer-term housing or help so you can stay in your home.

The type of help you can get depends on:

  • your eligibility for assistance
  • if you鈥檙e in priority need
  • what caused you to become homeless

Eligibility for assistance

If you live permanently in the UK, you鈥檒l usually be eligible for assistance.

If you鈥檙e from abroad, you may not be eligible because of your immigration status. For more information, check .

Priority need

You may be in priority need if any of the following are true:

  • you or someone you live with is pregnant
  • 鈥榙ependent children鈥� live with you (under 16s or under 19s if they鈥檙e studying full-time)
  • you鈥檙e 16 or 17
  • you鈥檙e under 21 and were in care between the ages of 16 and 18
  • , for example as a result of old age, disability or domestic abuse
  • you鈥檙e homeless after a flood, fire or other disaster

You may also be entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit to help with your housing costs.

Get advice and support

You can get further advice and support from .

You may be able to get free legal advice for housing problems including if you鈥檙e being evicted or you鈥檝e been made homeless. Check if you can get legal aid.

You can get advice from Civil Legal Advice, if you鈥檙e eligible, or you can .

Related content