Homelessness

What help is there if I am suffering from mental health difficulties?

If you are homeless tonight and you have nowhere to go, or if you are at risk of losing your home, then please complete the homelessness assistance form online. If you cannot complete the online form, then you can call the contact centre on 01858 82 82 82 or email us at hhs@harborough.gov.uk.

The most important thing to do is act now. We understand that it can be daunting if you are homeless or if you are at risk of losing your home. We understand that it can be worse if the stress of your situation makes your mental health less manageable. 

Sometimes it might seem like your housing problems are too big to deal with, so the housing team will help you deal with each bit step-by-step. This might mean that you need to talk to someone about reducing your debt, paying your rent or getting your benefits sorted out. We can help with all these things. Or if we cannot help, we will know who to talk to who can help.

Always talk to your doctor if you feel that your mental illness has got worse. It is perfectly understandable if your mental health has taken a turn for the worse during a stressful time. If you are feeling like harming yourself or others then call 999 immediately. Please be aware that if you tell us anything to be concerned with then we will do a safeguarding referral to ensure that you get the help you need.

If you struggle with daily tasks then you may be able to get help from social services.

What if I need to move house?

We understand that sometimes your own home can be making your mental health worse. Think about what the reasons for this are: Is it that there is damp and mould in your house? Is the rent too expensive? Is your house overcrowded?

The housing team may be able to help you in your current home, it might mean that you do not have to go through the stress of moving house. For example the Environmental Health team can talk to you about managing damp in your home or you may be eligible for more benefits to help with your rent.

If this does not solve your housing problem then you may be eligible to join the housing register. You can find out more information on joining the housing register here. Please be aware that it can take a long time to find somewhere else to move to on the housing register. Sometimes you need to be patient while you wait for a suitable property to become available for you and your family.

We may ask you to provide supporting information to help your application on the housing register. This is because we need "evidence" of your housing need. A supporting letter or email could come from your doctor, midwife, health visitor, school or social worker etc.. We take all information very seriously and it is all completely confidential.

 

What help is there for Care Leavers who are homeless?

A care leaver is someone under the age of 25 who has been looked after by the Leicestershire County Council as a child.

When you’re ready to move into your own home, your social worker and your personal advisor will help with any decisions you need to make. 

• If you’re in foster care, you can stay with your foster carer up to the age of 21, if this is what you and your foster care want.    
• You will be given priority status on the waiting list for housing if you apply within Leicestershire.  
• You can get a Leaving Care Grant of up to £2,000 to furnish your home and to cover your first TV license and contents insurance.  This grant is available until your 25th birthday if you haven’t moved into your own home before then.

If you are 16 or 17 years old and you are working with Leicestershire Children's Services then you may be eligible to join the council's housing register. You can find out more information on how to join the housing register here. However, you may not be able to get your own place until you are 18 years old. You should work with your social worker and personal housing advisor to find out the best options for you. Please note that it can take a long time to find somewhere to live through the housing register.

If you have no where to live then the council may be able to provide you with temporary accommodation while we help you look for somewhere more permanent to live.

When you move into your own place you will be responsible for paying the rent, bills such as electricity, gas, tv license and council tax. However, there will be some support available for you and you may be eligible to apply for Universal Credit.

 

I am a Traveller, can I join the housing register?

If you are from the gypsy or traveller communities but you have been living in the Harborough District as your settled address, or if your family has been settled in the district, then you may be eligible to join the housing register. You can find out more information on joining the housing register here.

However, we recognise that sometimes you might have been travelling around a lot and not have settled in one place for very long. We will take this into account when you apply to join the housing register.

You should think carefully about where you want to live. Joining the housing register and getting your own house to live in is a big commitment, it is very unlikely that you would be able to move again quickly if you get a house through the housing register.

When you are thinking about where you want to live permanently you should consider things like:

• Where do your children go to school?
• Where is your doctor's surgery?
• Where do you work?
• Where does your family live?

If you would like to apply for a permanent caravan site, discuss your options around education and for any other support and help, then you can contact the Multi Agency Travellers Unit at Leicestershire County Council. You can email them on: MultiAgencyTravellersUnit@leics.gov.uk

If you are a gypsy or traveller and you are homeless tonight and you have nowhere to go, or if you are at risk of losing your home, then please complete the homelessness assistance form online. If you cannot complete the online form, then you can call the contact centre on 01858 82 82 82 or email us at hhs@harborough.gov.uk.