Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

Apply for support

Register as homeless on our Get help with homelessness website. You should do this even if you are contacting us for housing advice.

If you have nowhere to sleep tonight, we will contact you today.

If you cannot fill out the online form or need urgent help because you have nowhere to stay tonight, please call us on 0300 131 2131.

If your situation is not urgent, we aim to respond within three working days.

If you are not currently homeless, we may be able to help you stay in your home. Please visit our housing advice pages for information about planning a move if needed.

Contacting us outside of office hours

For emergencies outside office hours, phone us on 0300 131 2131.

What we can do

If you are at risk of losing your home in the next 56 days, we will do our best to help you stay in your current accommodation. We can:

• talk to your landlord or mortgage provider
• talk to your family if you have been asked to leave
• support with rent arrears
• work with you to find solutions

Regardless of if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness we will:

• assess your situation
• create a Personal Housing Plan explaining what we need you to do and what we will do
• support you for a minimum of 56 days to help you stay in your home or find another place to live
• send written updates

If you are homeless, we will review if you have a priority need and if so discuss the emergency accommodation options. Accommodation could be outside your local area, but household needs will be considered.

How we assess you

Before processing your homeless application, we assess your eligibility for housing assistance based on your immigration and residence status. Different rules apply to British, Irish, and other nationals. If you are not eligible, we can advise you on alternative support options.

Reasons that you may be homeless or at risk of homelessness include you:

• have nowhere to live now or will have nowhere in the next 56 days
• be unable to get into your home, even if you should be allowed to live there
• live in a caravan or boat but have no legal place to keep it
• are in accommodation that is unsafe or unsuitable due to exceptional reasons
• have been separated from your family because there is no suitable housing together
• are at risk of violence or abuse in your home

If for any reason you don’t qualify for help, we can advise you on other support options.

Your connection to North Yorkshire will also be considered, including whether you have:

• residency in North Yorkshire for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 of the last 5 years
• permanent employment within North Yorkshire
• immediate family residing locally for at least 5 years
• some form of exception, such as being armed forces personnel, or that you are escaping domestic abuse

If you lack a local connection, our team will advise on your options and guide you to access help in areas where you do have a connection.

What happens when you apply

After contacting us, you will get an appointment with the housing options team. How long it takes to get an appointment depends on how urgent your situation is.

You will have an assessment to review your housing needs. Assessments can last up to 90 minutes. Please bring your identification and any supporting documents.

Accommodation options

Your housing options officer will discuss your longer term options with you. We always try to help you keep your current accommodation. When this is not possible or not safe, we may offer you:

• social housing
• private rental, either through letting agents or directly with landlords
• financial assistance, such as bond support
• supported housing if you are a young person aged 16 to 25

Extra support is available depending on your location and circumstances.