If you are homeless or think you might become homeless in the near future then you should contact Gateshead Council who have a duty to try and prevent homelessness and help people who are homeless. You can make an appointment to see a Housing Advice Officer by telephoning 0191 4332616. They are based at Gateshead Civic Centre on Regent Street, Gateshead, NE8 1HH and their offices are open from 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.45am to 4.30pm on a Friday.
E-mail: Housing Advice|
What does the Law say about homelessness?
The Housing Act 1996 part VII sets out the legal duties that the council has to people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The council does not have to provide housing to all homeless people but has to if someone is:
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Homeless or threatened with homelessness within the next 28 days; and they
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Are eligible for assistance; and
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Are in priority need; and
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Are not intentionally homeless; and
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Have a local connection with Gateshead
What does 'homeless' mean?
A person is homeless if they have no accommodation available to them that they have a legal right to reasonably occupy. For example:
Your landlord has
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obtained a court order to evict
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You have been asked to leave by family and friends
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You have a home but cannot access it because the landlord has illegally changed the locks
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You normally live in a caravan but have nowhere to legally park it.
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You have a home but it is not reasonable to expect you to stay there because of the condition of the property, or the risk of domestic violence, severe overcrowding or financial hardship.
What does 'eligible for assistance' mean?
This is mainly about immigration status. You are not eligible if;
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You are from abroad and subject to immigration control.
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You are not considered to be 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 for settled purposes 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 continue to be so.
What is 'priority need'?
You will be in priority need if you or someone you normally live with;
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Have dependant children living with you that is a child aged 16 years or under, or aged 17 to 18 and still in full time education
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Are pregnant
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Aged 60 years or over
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Are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental or physical disability, being looked after by the council as a child, having been in the prison or the armed forces.
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Are homeless as a result of a fire, flood or any similar disaster
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Are 16 or 17 years old
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Have left accommodation because of violence.
What does 'Intentionally Homeless' mean?
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.
What is 'local connection'?
The council will usually only house you if you have a local connection with Gateshead or if you have no local connection anywhere. You will have a local connection within Gateshead if:
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You have lived in this area for 6 of the past 12 months or 3 of the past 5 years, or
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You have a permanent job in the borough, or
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You have close relatives in the borough for 5 years, or
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You have a special reason why you must live in the area
What happens when I apply to the Council as homeless?
Someone will interview you to find out if you are:
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Homeless or likely to become homeless
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In priority need
If you are not in urgent need of help you will be given an appointment to see a Homelessness Officer. You will be told what information you will need to provide. If you have nowhere to stay that night or are going to be homeless within the next few days you will be seen as an emergency. A Homelessness Officer will see you in a private interview room. You will be asked details about your housing situation. These details will be written down on an application form. You will be asked questions about where you have lived over the past 5 years and why you left those addresses. We will ask you about your personal circumstances. You might be asked to produce one or more of the documents listed below. The same Homelessness Officer will usually deal with your case from beginning to end. If you would like an interview with an officer of the same sex we will do our best to help.
We will treat as confidential any information you give the council. We will only pass it on when you have given your consent, when we must legally pass it on or when it is allowed under the Data Protection Act.
What may I need to provide?
You may be asked for any of these documents depending on your situation. You should bring relevant documents for all members of your household.
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Immigration documents
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National Insurance
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Passport
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Medical information
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Ante-natal card or proof of pregnancy
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Birth certificates
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Marriage certificates
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Custody documents
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Divorce paperwork
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Written notice from landlord, friends or relatives
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Court order, Bailiff warrant
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Buildings society letters on mortgage arrears
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Solicitor or legal advice letters
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Rent book or receipts
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Wage slips
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Income support or job seekers allowance
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Other benefits
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Child benefit books
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Proof of all addresses over the last 5 years
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Pension book
What happens if I give false information?
If you;
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State you are homeless when you are not
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Give false information about your circumstances
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Withhold information, or
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Fail to tell us all material facts about your circumstances
Then you could face criminal prosecution for fraud.