This page will explain how
the local authority will help you if you become homeless or
threatened with homelessness. It should be noted that Wulvern
Housing will assess all applications from homeless households, on
behalf of the Council.
If it is found that the
Council has a duty to make accommodation available to you,
Wulvern Housing will also
discharge this duty on behalf of the Council.
If you are found to:
- Be homeless or threatened with homelessness
- Be eligible for assistance
- Be in priority need
- Be unintentionally homeless and
- Have a local connection
The Council, through Wulvern
Housing, will have a duty to make sure that permanent housing is
made available to you. This may mean temporary accommodation being
offered until permanent accommodation can be found
At any stage of your application
being assessed you may be told that you are not entitled to
assistance. You will be given a written notice by Wulvern Housing,
which will set out why you are not eligible. The notice will also
tell you that you have a right of appeal and how to go about making
an appeal.
Who is
homeless?
You are homeless if;
- You have no accommodation which you are legally entitled to
occupy anywhere in the UK or the world,
- You have accommodation but cannot occupy it,
- It is unreasonable for you to occupy your accommodation,
- You face threats of violence or actual violence at home,
- You live in moveable accommodation such as a caravan but have
nowhere to site it.
These are just a few common
examples. There may be other reasons why you are homeless. The
golden rule is always seek advice before matters get out of hand.
We may be able to offer advice and assistance, which will prevent
you losing your home or delay matters to allow more time to arrange
re-housing.
Are you eligible for
assistance?
You may be excluded from assistance if you are subject to
immigration control or an asylum seeker under the Asylum &
Immigration Act 1996. However, this will not prevent you from
seeking advice.
If you have any doubts about your
status seek advice from
Wulvern House, Electra Way,
Crewe, Cheshire, CW1 6GW.
Tel 01270 503500 or 01270 503677,
between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
The out of hours Homeless crisis
Tel number is 0845 0532313
Are you in
priority need?
You may think that if you are
homeless, you will automatically be in priority need, but this is
not so. The Acts (Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Act 2002) are
very specific. You are only in priority need if;
- You or your partner is pregnant,
- You have dependent children,
- You are vulnerable because of old age, mental illness or
handicap or physical disability,
- Your homelessness is caused by an emergency, e.g. Fire or
flood,
- You are 16 or 17 years of age (provided you are not in the care
of Social Services),
- You are a care leaver aged between 18 and 21 (and meet the
requirements of the Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000),
- You are vulnerable as a result of, Being looked after,
accommodated or fostered by the local authority, or Spending time
in the armed forces or having been in prison or remanded in
custody.
Are you intentionally
homeless?
You will not be entitled to assistance if you have deliberately
done something or failed to do something, which has led to your
homelessness. This would include people who were evicted from a
tenancy due to anti-social behaviour or people who had the money to
pay their mortgage but did not prioritise their mortgage when they
knew that their home was at risk. These people will not be
re-housed.
This is why it is especially
important to seek advice as soon as you know you are threatened
with homelessness. Not only may something be done to prevent you
becoming homeless but also you will have demonstrated that you have
done everything you can to avoid the situation.
Do you have a local
connection?
You have a local connection with Crewe & Nantwich
if;
- You are, or were in the past, normally resident within the
Borough and that residence was of your own choice,
- You are employed within the district,
- You have family connections in Crewe & Nantwich, or
- You have special circumstances.
Temporary Accommodation
Sometimes homeless households require temporary accommodation while
Wulvern Housing is assessing the application. If this should be the
case every effort will be made to offer a suitable property within
Wulvern's housing stock. This will be let on a short-term contract
until the application has been determined. It may be necessary on
occasions to offer shared hostel accommodation or even bed &
breakfast accommodation, but this would only happen if no other
accommodation were available.
If your case is accepted, the
Council via Wulvern Housing, will have a duty to provide you with
permanent accommodation. This is normally done by placing you
on the housing register and awarding you points to reflect the fact
that you are homeless. In these circumstances you can expect to
receive an offer of permanent accommodation fairly quickly. Wulvern
Housing will give an indication of how long you may have to wait.
Until permanent accommodation is found you will be able to stay in
temporary accommodation.
What if my homeless application
is turned down?
A negative decision can be made if it is found that you are not
homeless, not eligible for assistance, not in priority need, or
homeless intentionally through your own actions. If it is found
that you do not have a local connection with Crewe & Nantwich
you would normally be referred to the local authority
with which you do have a
connection.
If a negative decision is made,
you have the right to help and advice to assist you to find your
own accommodation. Wulvern Housing will make this help available to
you.
You can also appeal against a
negative decision.
Details of how to go about this
will be included in the decision notice given to you by Wulvern
Housing. You may also seek the advice of an independent agency when
considering an appeal.
This may include the Citizens'
Advice Bureau, Shelter or a local solicitor.
Crewe & Nantwich Borough
Council will determine each appeal.
If you require further
information about making an appeal contact