If you are homeless or think you may be threatened with homelessness please contact our Housing Options Team on 0191 4332616. You may request to speak to an officer by telephone to receive basic advice or you will be advised of the times that you can attend the service to receive a fact to face interview. If you are homeless and have nowhere to stay that night you need to approach our Housing Options Service and the duty housing options officer will complete an assessment with you. In all cases the officer will work with you to help prevent your homelessness.
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Am I eligible for assistance?
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Am I homeless?
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Am I in priority need?
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What is Intentionally homeless?
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Do I have a Local Connection?
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Out of office hours emergencies
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Further information
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What is temporary accommodation?
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What are the types of temporary accommodation?
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Will I be supported during my stay in temporary accommodation?
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Who pays for temporary accommodation?
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What if I refuse an offer of temporary accommodation, fail to go to the temporary accommodation or vacate temporary accommodation?
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Pets
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How long might I stay in temporary accommodation?
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How do I access temporary accommodation?
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I don’t agree with my homeless decision, what can I do?
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Homeless Accommodation
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Requesting a review
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Procedure once review request is submitted
Am I eligible for assistance?
You are not eligible for assistance under homeless legislation if:
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You are from abroad and are subject to immigration to control.
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You are not considered habitually resident in the UK (The habitually resident test applies to all applicants including British citizens. It is necessary for you to show that you have taken up residence in the UK voluntarily and that you have actually lived here for a period of time that is sufficient to show that your residency has become ‘habitual’ and is likely to be so).
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Certain EC nationals may not be eligible for assistance. This can be discussed with a member of our Housing Options Team.
Please note that the local authority may have a duty to assist you if you are not eligible by virtue of other legislation if you are very vulnerable and in need of assistance for example mental health problems. Immigration law| is very complicated and it is important to get specialist legal advice
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Am I homeless?
A person is threatened with homelessness if he or she is likely to be homeless within 28 days.
The definition of homeless, set out in the Housing Act 1996, states that you are homeless if:
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You have no accommodation in the UK or elsewhere which is available for your occupation and which you have the legal right to occupy.
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You have a home but cannot gain entry to it.
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Your home is a boat, mobile home or caravan and you have nowhere legally to moor it or park it.
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You have nowhere you can live together with your immediate family.
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You have somewhere to stay but it is unreasonable for you to continue to stay there, for example due to domestic violence.
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Am I in priority need?
Gateshead Council will have a stronger legal duty to assist you with accommodation as a homeless person if you are in ‘priority need’ i.e.
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You have a dependant child who resides with you on a full time basis.
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You or a member of your household are pregnant.
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Your household includes a person who may be vulnerable because of old age, mental illness, physical disability or some other special reason.
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You are homeless as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire or other disaster.
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You are 16 or 17 (if you are within this age group it may be more appropriate for you details to be referred to Social Services depending on your individual circumstances).
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What is Intentionally homeless?
You would be intentionally homeless if you deliberately chose to leave a home you could have stayed in, or if it was your fault you lost your home. If, for example, you have become homeless because you did not pay your rent or mortgage and you could afford to you would be intentionally homeless. If you are found to be intentionally homeless the council would not have a duty to find you a permanent home. They will give you advice and assistance on the housing options available to you.
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Do I have a Local Connection?
The council will usually only house you if you have a local connections with Gateshead. You will have a local connection with Gateshead if:
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You have lived in Gateshead for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years.
OR
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You have a permanent job in the borough, or
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You have close relatives who have lived in the borough for 5 years, or
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You have a special reason why you must live in the area.
If you do not have a local connections with Gateshead we will ask another local authority where you do have a connection to help you.
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Out of office hours emergencies
If you have an emergency when the offices are closed contact our 24 hour response service on 0191 4770844. This service starts at 6pm and ends at 8am week days and 24 hrs over the weekend.
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Further information
Gateshead Council can provide full details of our legal duties under homeless legislation, and the Homeless Code of Guidance|: July 2006. This document is in plain English and explains what duties a local authority has when assessing housing options and homelessness.
Please if you have any other queries or requests for information do not hesitate to contact the Housing Options Team.
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What is temporary accommodation?
If you find yourself in housing need and have no accommodation that you are able to access for that night then Gateshead Council’s Housing Options Team may be able to help you secure a form of emergency temporary accommodation.
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What are the types of temporary accommodation?
This could be a homeless hostel, a women’s refuge, a temporary house or flat or a bed and breakfast. The type of accommodation available will be determined by your individual circumstances and family composition.
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Will I be supported during my stay in temporary accommodation?
Gateshead Council recognise that staying in temporary accommodation for any length of time can be difficult and have a bad effect on your family life. This is why Gateshead Council assign a support worker to households accommodated within its temporary accommodation. We will also aim to support you as much as possible should you have to stay for a short time in B&B.
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Who pays for temporary accommodation?
You are responsible for meeting the costs of any temporary accommodation which includes travel costs to get to the accommodation. The costs can range from £15 per week to £150 depending on your circumstances and on the accommodation provided and you will normally be required to pay your first rental payment up front when you arrive at the accommodation. If you are on a low income you may be entitled to claim Local Housing Allowance| (Housing Benefit) to help with the costs. Some people may also be eligible for a crisis loan to help pay for the costs associated with securing emergency accommodation and this can be applied for at your local Job Centre Plus or by calling (0800) 0328366, for more information visit Job Centre Plus| Website.
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What if I refuse an offer of temporary accommodation, fail to go to the temporary accommodation or vacate temporary accommodation?
If you are homeless and an offer of temporary accommodation is reasonable, if you fail to go to the accommodation secured or if you vacate the accommodation, our duty towards you may come to an end. You could ask us to review your situation but we may not offer you any further temporary accommodation.
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Pets
It is not possible to take pets to any of the temporary accommodation we could secure for you (except for dogs which assist you with a disability). You should make arrangements for your pets to be temporarily looked after by family or friends. The RSPCA| may be able to give you advice if you are unable to find anyone to look after your pets.
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How long might I stay in temporary accommodation?
If you have made a homeless application and are placed into temporary accommodation, we try and reach a decision as soon as possible. You can help us do this by providing all of the information you are asked for and to keep looking for your own accommodation. It is not possible to guarantee how long you may be in temporary accommodation as this will vary on your individual circumstances and the availability of housing.
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How do I access temporary accommodation?
You can request emergency temporary accommodation during office hours (Monday – Thursday 8.45am – 5.00pm, 8.45am – 4.35pm by presenting to Gateshead Civic Centre, or out of office hours by presenting to Gateshead Civic Centre or by calling 0191 4770844.
If you do require emergency temporary accommodation the officer who interviews you may have to investigate why you have nowhere to stay and this could include contacting your family, friends, landlord, partner etc so be prepared to provide contact telephone numbers and relevant addresses.
You may also be able to access emergency temporary accommodation yourself and below is a directory or local providers:
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Phoenix Guest House (males 35 +)
Gateshead
0191 4777500
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Salvation Army (mixed 18 +)
Sunderland
0191 5655411
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Salvation Army (males 18 +)
Newcastle upon Tyne
0191 2339150
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Salvation Army (females 18+)
Newcastle upon Tyne
0191 2241509
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Tyne Hotel (males 25 +)
Newcastle upon Tyne
0191 2261707
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YWCA (mixed 18 +)
Newcastle upon Tyne
0191 2811233
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Salvation Army (males 18 +)
Darlington
01325 489242
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The Fells (males 18 +)
Chester le Street
0191 3710541
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Night Stop (mixed 16 – 25. Placed with a host family)
0191 2536161
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Refuge accommodation and contacts for people suffering domestic abuse. Internal Link 11: (appendix 4)
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Women’s Aid (National Helpline)
0808 2000247
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I don’t agree with my homeless decision, what can I do?
Homeless Review
The Housing Act 1996 (s.202) provides that applicants have a legal right to request a review and sets out the procedures to follow as detailed below.
Homeless Decisions
If you think the decision the council has made about your homeless application is wrong, you have the right to request a review. You can request a review of any decision the council has made in relation to your homelessness:
This includes decisions about whether you;
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Are eligible for assistance
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Are homeless or threatened with homeless
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Have a priority need
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Have a local connection with the area
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Homeless Accommodation
If the council has provided you with temporary accommodation or has made you an offer of accommodation to alleviate your homelessness and you feel the accommodation offered is unsuitable you can request a review of the suitability of accommodation, whether or not you accept the property.
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Requesting a review
Your review request must be submitted within 21 days of being notified of the Council’s decision (Housing Act 1996 s.202 (3).
A review may be submitted on your behalf by any other person or agency who has your authority to do so.
Your review request must include:
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your name,
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contact address and
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Detail reasons why you think the decision is wrong or the property offered is unsuitable.
You review request must be submitted in writing and marked for the attention of:
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Senior Housing Options Officer (Appeals)
Gateshead Council
Housing Services
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
Your request can be submitted in any of the following ways:
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By email to Housingadvice@Gateshead.gov.uk
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By fax to 0191 477 8373
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By letter to:
Gateshead Council
Civic Centre
Regent Street
Gateshead
NE8 1HH
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Procedure once review request is submitted
You will receive written notification that your review request has been received.
A Senior Housing Options Officer within Housing services will initially review the issues raised. This may include contacting yourself and/or other agencies for relevant information.
If a formal review request is required this will be considered by a panel of three elected members.
You will receive notification that your review has been passed for a formal hearing. You and/or your representative will be invited to attend the hearing and will be provided with details of when and where the hearing will take place.
You do not need to attend the hearing although it is advisable that you or your representative does so. If you do not wish to or cannot attend you will be provided with details of who to contact to advise and/ or re-arrange.
After considering all information the panel will reach a decision in relation to your review. You will be provided with written notification of their decision, which will include full reasons for that decision.
If you are not satisfied with the review outcome you may make a further appeal to the County Court on telephone number 0191 477 5821 alternatively visit HM Courts Service|. This must be brought within 21 days of the date you received notification of the review outcome/decision.
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