You are homeless if you do not have a secure home. This means that if you do not have accommodation that you are legally able to occupy or you do not have any rights to stay where you are living (eg, sleeping on a friends sofa) you are technically homeless. Having a roof over your head does not stop you from being homeless.

If you do become homeless or are likely to become homeless within 28 days, your Council’s legal obligations to you will depend upon your personal circumstances and the reasons why you became homeless.  The Council has a duty of care to vulnerable people. If you do not have a Lincoln city connection, we may consider that re-connection to your local area is the only option available to you.

The Council has a duty towards people who are or soon will be homeless. Everyone is entitled to help and advice. How much help we can give you will depend on your circumstances.

A full housing duty is owed to homeless people who are:

• eligible
• homeless or threatened with homelessness in 28 days
• in priority need
• homeless through no fault of your own
• have a local connection with the Lincolnshire area.

Most people are eligible for assistance but you probably will not be if you are:

• an asylum seeker
• from abroad and have limits to your right to remain in the UK
• not entitled to claim ‘public funds’, such as benefits, not normally resident in the UK or are living here illegally

Couples experiencing the breakdown of a relationship can approach organisations such as Relate on 01522 524922 to help with relationship difficulties. Mediation can produce an amicable arrangement about the family home. If there is a possibility of you becoming homeless through this situation then you should contact Shelter for advice on:  03445 151700 and your local Council. (Please refer to the above question for how they can help)

You should contact the Homelessness office immediately who will let you know if you are eligible for assistance from the Council. The Lincoln number is 01522 873778. They will make arrangements to see you as soon as possible. If you are homeless immediately or if you are in an emergency situation, they will then look at your circumstances, consider whether or not you could be in priority need, and (if you are) arrange emergency accommodation. You will need to complete an application form during this interview – your application will then be processed and you will be informed whether the Council (by Law) can offer you assistance.

If you are not homeless immediately, you may need to make an appointment with a Homelessness officer. They will assess your situation and either give you Housing advice to enable you to resolve your situation or, failing that, will ask you to complete and submit a Homeless application. Your application will then be processed. You could be offered temporary accommodation if you require it, pending the outcome of your application. If you are accepted as Homeless (as defined by The Housing Act 1996 amended by Homelessness Act 2002), the Council will have a duty to provide you with housing. If your application is processed and you are not accepted, you will be responsible for finding your own accommodation and housing.

Temporary accommodation is usually a Bed and Breakfast, a hotel or a hostel depending upon availability of vacancies at the time. The Nomad Trust is the counties only emergency night shelter. It can sleep up to 21 people at any one time (dormitory style accommodation). At The Nomad Trust we can offer you a bed, laundry facilities and showers including toiletries. Breakfast and supper is provided at Beattitude (St. Mary le Wigford). Assistance is given with resettlement. All admissions are subject to risk assessment.

You will have to arrange for your belongings to be placed into storage. You should try storing belongings with friends or family. If you are unable to do this the Council will provide storage but a small fee will be involved. We provide lockers, however, they are quite small and only designed to hold enough for immediate needs.

This depends on the length of time taken to process your application and the availability of alternative accommodation to move you on to. If you are a family, you will not be in Bed and Breakfast accommodation for longer than 6 weeks but you could be in a hostel for up to six months. It would also depend on your priority need.

This means that the Council believes that you have lost or are losing your home through your own actions or are giving it up by choice.

You will not be considered intentionally homeless if: -

• You have left your home because of domestic violence or threats of violence either from the person or persons you live with or an outside party.
• You were living in tied accommodation and you have lost your job through no fault of your own, or have needed to give up your house and home due to other reasons e.g. health, property has changed owners etc.
• There was a change in your financial circumstances whereby you could not afford to maintain the rent or mortgage payments even though all benefit entitlement has been claimed.
• You have needed to leave your home due to racial or sexual harassment.
• You have become homeless as a result of an emergency such as flood, fire, or other disaster.

We can provide all the relevant contact details you will need. Our Project Support Worker will set you up with an appointment with them to go through what needs and requirements you have, and how we can help.

Shelter (Helpline): 0808 800444 national helpline open between 8.00am to 8.00pm

Citizens Advice Bureau Lincoln: 08450 525252 (Drop in center is located on Beaumont fee Lincoln. On MON+TUE+THUR at 12:30 – 3:30 or WED 9:30am – 12:30pm)

Social Services Lincoln: Customer services: 01522 782155, Emergency number: 01529 413366

Housing Emergency number: 01522 873212

Woman’s Refuge Lincoln: 01522 510041