Preventing homelessness

It is our priority to help you so that you are able to avoid becoming homeless.

We will work with you to make sure that you do not become homeless wherever it is possible by:

• negotiating with your landlord or the people you live with
• providing you with housing advice – including advice on rent arrears and affordability issues and any grants or benefits that may be available to you
• providing advice on housing related support which are not general health, social care or statutory personal care services to help you live independently
• exploring alternative housing options such as adapting, swopping or downsizing your home to make it more affordable or - depending on your age - sheltered housing

Recognising efforts to prevent homelessness

Under the council’s Housing Allocation Policy your efforts to prevent homelessness are recognised by band awards on the housing register.

This means that:

• households who have avoided homelessness 5 or more times by securing alternative private rented accommodation since being on the register are awarded Band B priority
• households who have avoided homelessness 4 times since being on the register by securing alternative private rented accommodation are awarded Band C
• households who have avoided homelessness up to 3 times since being on the register by securing alternative private rented accommodation are awarded Band D