We offer support and advice to people aged 16 to 25. This includes mediation and support and advice to deal with problems at home through the Hub, the housing support and advice service for young people. You can find out more about what the Hub offers here.
Important
Immediate risk of homelessness
If you are at immediate risk of homelessness, please contact us.
If you are having problems in your current accommodation and are at risk of losing it, we can help. If we cannot prevent you from becoming homeless, we will tell you what help you are entitled to under the homeless legislation, and the housing options that are available to you.
Homelessness support
There are many reasons why people feel they cannot stay in their home. We work with our partners to help with these issues and more. Here are some of the services available in the Craven area.
Family mediation
Resolving tenancy issues
We will work with your landlord to discuss your situation and underlying problem, such as rent arrears, tackling disrepair and dealing with allegations of harassment or illegal eviction. For more information, see our housing advice for tenants section.
Help with rent
Discretionary housing payments give extra help towards your rent for a limited period of time. You must be in receipt of assistance with your housing costs to qualify and need extra help due to a change in your circumstances that is no fault of your own. Find out more in our help with paying rent and mortgages section.
Debt and budgeting advice
If you are struggling with housing costs as a result of debt, we can negotiate affordable repayments with your creditors.
Housing support
We have specialist officers who can advise those who are at risk of homelessness. Some of the things they can help with are:
- applying for local grants for furniture
- applying for housing costs and other benefits
- tackling rent arrears or other debts
- learning to budget properly and look after your home
- working with landlords to sort out issues with utility companies and other organisations
- finding other services which can support or help with specific problems, for example, health and debt management
- helping you become more involved with your local community
- finding education, employment and training
To make a referral, contact us.
Court desk and help to defend possession proceedings
Yorkshire Legal provide a court advisor at Skipton County Court to assist and represent people facing eviction and repossession. They will check that your landlord or mortgage lender has followed the correct procedures and help you to make a defence claim.
Adaptations to your home
If you are disabled and struggling to manage in your home, you may qualify for a disabled facilities grant to do work such as fitting a stair lift, putting in a ramp or a shower. If you rent from a social landlord, they may do some minor works themselves. See more about disabled facilities grants.
Making a homelessness application
Once you have contacted us, you will be offered an appointment within five working days depending on the urgency of your situation. Contact us.
Your interview
We will need to gather as much information about your housing problem as possible so that we can fully understand your circumstances and give you the most appropriate advice. This initial assessment could take up to an hour and a half. You will be asked questions about your circumstances and other members of your household and asked to provide certain documents to support your application.
We will assess the information provided and decide what duty if any we owe you. We may need further information from you before we can make a decision.
Homelessness prevention
If you are threatened with homelessness in 56 days, you are entitled to a prevention duty. This means we must take reasonable steps to help you remain in your accommodation wherever possible. If we cannot keep you in your current accommodation, we will help you to look for somewhere else to live. You will be given a personal housing plan which lists actions for you and us to take to resolve your situation.
Homeless relief
If you are homeless, you are entitled to a relief duty for up to 56 days. This means that we must take reasonable steps to help you to look for other accommodation. This does not mean that you will be offered a council property, but we will give you advice on how to find accommodation that is suitable and affordable for your needs. You will be given a personal housing plan which lists actions for you and us to take to resolve your situation.
Temporary accommodation
We do not have to provide temporary accommodation to everybody who is homeless - the help that we can give depends on whether or not you are in priority need or vulnerable.
Even if we cannot provide temporary accommodation, we will always try to find you a place in a hostel or supported housing scheme, although this may not be in the Craven area.
Social housing
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, we will give you some priority on the housing register. But due to high demand and low turnover in some areas, there is no guarantee that you will get an offer of social housing. In most cases we would encourage you to look for accommodation in the private rented sector and we offer assistance with bonds and rent in advance to enable people to access this.
Outside office hours
Support from other organisations
There are other local organisations that can provide additional support.
Other support
The following organisations offer additional support:
- Horton Housing provide a range of services to support homeless people
- Shelter is a national charity that gives practical housing advice and support
- Citizens Advice give advice on a wide variety of subjects
- Money Advice Service offer practical advice on money, debts and budgeting