Homelessness
Are you homeless or threatened with homelessness? We are here to help. Working with our partners in the community, we can help prevent homelessness and provide a range of advice on matters including:
- Mortgage Arrears
- Notice to Quit
- Threat of Eviction
- Fleeing Domestic Violence
- End of Service Tenancy
- Relationship Breakdown
Drop-in Service
We operate a drop-in service between 10am - 11:30am and 2pm - 3:30pm (Mon-Fri). We will see anyone who has a housing issue, please ensure that you bring some form of photo ID with you as you will not be seen without it.
Rough Sleepers
If you have come across somebody sleeping rough somewhere in Horsham District, please let us know. The Council has a duty to accommodate anybody who is sleeping rough if the temperature drops to zero degrees or below for three consecutive nights. Wherever possible, the Council will work with partner agencies and support services to assist rough sleepers into suitable accommodation. Reporting a rough sleeper is the first stage of this process and the Council depends on members of the public to let us know if somebody has nowhere to go at night. There is a direct access hostel in Crawley which can be accessed by people on benefits and the telephone number is: 01293 447702.
If you wish to report a homeless person, please use our Homeless Reporting Form
Tenancy deposit scheme
We operate a Tenancy Deposit Scheme, with the aim of assisting eligible people in housing need into privately rented accommodation. This is often a quicker alternative to securing suitable accommodation rather than waiting on the lengthy Housing Register. A booklet giving information about the scheme is available to download at the bottom of this page.
Not everyone who is homeless is entitled to accommodation from the Council. The following information will help you to assess your situation.
Who is Homeless?
We will consider you homeless if:
- you or your family have no accommodation which you are entitled to occupy
- you have a home but cannot gain entry to it
- you have a home but we consider that if you continue to live there it is probable that this will lead to violence against you or a member of your family
- you have a home but we consider that it is unreasonable for you to go on living there
Who is in priority need?
We will consider you a priority if:
- you have a dependent child normally living with you
- you have someone living with you who is expecting a baby
- you are 16 of 17 and have not previously been looked after by social services
- you are 18,19 or 20 and have been previously in care
- we consider that you or someone living with you is vulnerable because of old age, mental illness/disability, physical disability or other special reason
- because vulnerable are you that consider
- having been in care and you are over 21
- having been in the armed forces
- having been in custody or on remand
- having suffered violence of threats of violence
- you are homeless following a fire, flood or similar emergency
If you are homeless and do not have a priority need, we will still offer you advice and assistance in finding somewhere to live.
Who is intentionally homeless?
We may decide that you have become Intentionally Homeless if we are satisfied that:
- you have given up accommodation that you could have continued to occupy
- you have lost accommodation through your own fault or action
- you have made an arrangement with somebody in order to take advantage of the homeless legislation
If you are homeless through no fault of your own, and in circumstances beyond your control, it is unlikely that you will be treated as being Intentionally Homeless.
If you think you may lose your home, seek advice immediately as there may be ways of preventing you becoming homeless. Do not leave your home while you have a right to remain there, unless you have arranged somewhere else to live on a long term basis.
If we consider you Intentionally Homeless, we will not arrange accommodation for you unless you have a Priority Need and even then only for a limited period after we have made a decision on your case. However, we will still offer you advice and assistance in finding somewhere to live.
What is a 'Local Connection'?
You will usually have a local connection with a council if you, or anyone who usually lives with you, have:
- lived in the Council’s district for 6 months in the past year or 3 years in the last 5 years
- permanent employment in the Council’s district
- close family who have lived in the district for the last 5 years
- any other special connection with the Council’s district