Homeless or at risk of being

We can help if:

• you usually live in the UK and immigration control does not apply to you, or
• you have been given refugee status

If we can’t help you when faced with homelessness we can offer you advice on who to speak to for support.

We will need to see evidence of your identity, income or benefits and residency:

• passport, driving licence, NHS medical card
• addressed bills, bank statements

We can offer you advice if it’s likely you will become homeless in the next 56 days.

Legally you are homeless if:

• You have nowhere to live
• You have no legal right to stay in your home
• You have somewhere to live, but can’t get into the property
• You have somewhere to live, but it is not safe for you stay there
• You have a boat or caravan, but have nowhere to put it

We need to find out if you have become intentionally homeless. This could mean:

• You deliberately did something that you knew could mean losing your home
• You chose to leave a home you could have stayed in
• You ‘arranged’ to become homeless so you could make a housing application

You would be intentionally homeless if:

• You did not pay your rent or mortgage and were able to
• Your behaviour was considered anti-social
• You did not act on advice previously given to you

If we decide you are intentionally homeless, but in priority need we only have a legal duty to provide you with temporary accommodation for a short time so you can find somewhere else to live.

You wouldn’t be intentionally homeless if:

• It was not safe or reasonable for you to stay in your home
• You have rent or mortgage arrears that you could not avoid
• Somebody else did something and you knew nothing about it
  

We need to decide if you are in priority need of housing. You may be considered priority need if:

• You are 16 or 17
• You are under 21 and were looked after, fostered or are considered at risk
• You or someone you live with is pregnant
• You have children living with you under 16
• You have children living with you under 19 and still in full time education
• You aren’t safe where you live now
• You used to be in the Armed Forces
• You are considered vulnerable
• You are being released from prison and are considered vulnerable
• You have become homeless due to an emergency out of your control
• You are rough sleeping

We need to decide if you have a local connection to Conwy County. This includes:

• You have been living here for six out of the last twelve months
• You have been living here for three of the last five years
• You have close family living here for the last five years
• You work in Conwy County
• You have special circumstances

If you haven’t got a local connection here, but there is one to another area, we will refer you. If you don’t have a local connection to anywhere in the UK we can help if you are considered homeless.

If you are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, you need to contact Conwy Housing Solutions. We will ask you some questions and assess your needs.

It can help to have a friend, family, advocate or support worker with you when we assess your needs. They can help you recall the information during the meeting. If you want help with finding an advocate or support worker, please let us know.

You will be advised by a Homelessness Prevention Officer. This officer will advise and support you until you are no longer at risk of being homeless. If you prefer to speak to an officer of the same sex as you, please tell us when you contact us and we will try to arrange this.

We must offer emergency accommodation to homeless applicants if we have reason to believe they have an apparent priority. Once all attempts have been made to prevent your homelessness and you can no longer occupy your current home, your Homelessness Prevention Officer may offer you temporary accommodation for a short time and will continue to assist you to relieve your homelessness. This accommodation may be:

• supported accommodation unit
• hostel
• bed and breakfast
• temporary private let
• temporary unfurnished accommodation
• refuge

While in temporary accommodation, a housing officer will maintain close contact with you to ensure that rent is paid up to date and that you are keeping to the conditions of occupancy. They will also assist you to move on by advising you on further housing opportunities. When arranging temporary accommodation we will try to ensure that any temporary accommodation offered is in this area, however we cannot guarantee this. We will try to avoid the use of bed and breakfast accommodation where possible.

• Leave us your details online
• Telephone:
• Office hours: 0300 456 9545
• Emergency out of hours: 0300 123 3079