Homeless

If you live at home with your parents there will be times when everyone doesnt get along. There are varying reasons why a young person may find themselves asked to leave the family home. Most people who are homeless are not living on the streets they are staying with friends or relatives, on a settee or in the spare room, living in a B&B or other temporary situations. Being homeless simply means you do not have a home, though you may still have roof over your head.

If you have to leave home

Try to take all important papers with you, youll need things such as your birth certificate, passport, National Insurance number, driving licence, bank book, medical card, address book, exam certificates and benefit papers. Pack only essential clothes and toiletries you may have to carry your stuff around. You can get the rest of your things later if you cant take it all at once.

Save as much money as you can in advance. If you can leave the house early in the day. A lot of places that can offer you help are only open during office hours (9-5:30) and not at weekends.

Remember that sorting out benefits as well as a place to stay usually takes a lot of time and can be stressful be prepared for delays and frustration. If you are looking for a place to live the council may have a duty to find you emergency accommodation.

What happens?
If a young person presents as homeless and is 16/17 years of age in the short term Homeless section will assess the circumstances of the homeless application and offer emergency accommodation.
In the long term they will help the young person to apply for tenancy, housing association or supported accommodation dependant on their ability to cope.
Call 01287 612444 (within office hours) 01642 771300 (out of office hours) in order to arrange an office appointment.

If the young person is 18+ the local authority does not have a duty to provide emergency accommodation but can support the young person to complete homeless application and apply for tenancies, housing association or supported accommodation.

Return to: HOUSING

• Bankruptcy-insolvency.co.uk (Helpline)
• Bond Guarantee Scheme Housing Advice & Information Team (Redcar and Cleveland Council)
• Bridge House Mission (Stockton Churches Mission to the Single Homeless Ltd)
• Coast and Country Customer Contact Centre (Coast and Country)