Get help if you are homeless
Overview
You can get support if you are homeless or could become homeless. This includes if you have nowhere to stay or it is not safe for you to stay where you are.
You will first get advice from us including:
- how to find private accommodation to rent
- what benefits you can claim for, including help with housing costs
- how to find a long term home
- referrals to our Children’s Social Services or Adult Social Care
Get help if you are:
- experiencing or at risk of domestic abuse
- sleeping rough (street homeless)
- facing eviction or if you get notice to leave your current home
Check if you can get support for being homeless
Being homeless does not just mean sleeping rough on the streets.
You can get support as a homeless person if:
- you have nowhere to stay
- it is not safe for you to stay where you are
- you are staying with friends or family because you have nowhere to live (otherwise known as sofa surfing)
- you are in a hostel, night shelter or hotel because you have nowhere to stay
- you are experiencing or at risk of violence in your home
- your house is flooded or you have had a house fire
Call us if you are homeless and have nowhere to stay tonight
Call us on 0208 708 4002 if you are homeless now and have nowhere to stay tonight. This is a landline telephone number.
Email us if you do not have a phone. We can arrange an emergency face to face interview at Lynton House in Ilford if needed.
We will check to see if you are eligible for emergency accommodation. Emergency accommodation could be a room in hostel or self-contained flat.
This accommodation might not be in the borough of Redbridge.
Contact us if you are going to become homeless
You should contact us using our online form as soon as you know you might become homeless. We will try to prevent you from becoming homeless.
We will also check if we can legally provide you accommodation (otherwise known as housing duty).
What happens if we cannot help you
You will get advice if we have no housing duty to you.
This might include:
- information about renting privately
- information about what benefits you could apply for
- referrals to our Children’s Social Services or Adult Social Care
What happens if we can help
- We will offer you temporary accommodation if you are eligible for our housing help.
- We will check if you can get Housing Benefit. This benefit can help cover the rent.
- We will give you more advice depending on your situation.
- We will add you to the social housing register (waiting list) if you are eligible.
You will not automatically get a council house if you are homeless or living in temporary accommodation.
Find out more about social housing in Redbridge.
