Homeless or about to be
Glasgow currently has a housing emergency - find out what this means for you
What to do if you are homeless or think you are about to be made homeless
There are range of housing options in Glasgow that may meet your housing needs. In all cases, no matter your circumstances, you should check what can be done to resolve your housing issues and what housing options are available to you.
For example, you might want to consider whether you can negotiate to stay for a longer period in your current home, if it safe to stay there, while you address your housing issues or look for longer term accommodation. In the immediate short term, think about whether there are any friends or family who can support you to give you the time and space you need to seek advice and consider your options, as well as considering if they could give you a place to stay in the short term if need be.
Keeping you safe - all adults and children have the right to be safe from harm. If you are worried about yourself, or someone else, being at risk of harm / abuse, including neglect, then it is important to tell someone. If they are in immediate danger, phone 999. If they are not in immediate danger, you can contact report your concerns to Health and Social Care Connect for adults by completing a support enquiry/referral.
Look for Housing Advice
There are many sources of advice and guidance that you can consult to help you manage and resolve your housing issues (where it is safe for you to do so). Some useful information can be found here:
Consider all your options
If it is not possible for you to remain in your current home there is information available which can help you to resolve your housing issues.
If you do need to move from your current accommodation quickly, it is important to consider a range of housing options, including renting privately, or if you are a social housing tenant at the moment, it can be a good idea to pursue a mutual exchange. This is when two or more tenants want to exchange their properties. You can only do this after you have been given consent by your landlord.
Submit a housing advice enquiry
If you find you are unable to resolve your issues and have no other options open to you, the best way to contact us if you are homeless or about to be made homeless is to fill out relevant form below so we can gather the information we need to assess your situation:
Depending on your situation, we may provide advice, guidance, and/or signposting to others who can help, or we can support you through a homelessness assessment. If necessary, we may provide you with emergency accommodation and/or support you with an application for permanent housing.
You should only fill out the form after seeking advice and reviewing your options as described above. You can ask someone to help you with the form if you need support with it.
Keeping you safe - all adults and children have the right to be safe from harm. If you are worried about yourself, or someone else, being at risk of harm / abuse, including neglect, then it is important to tell someone. If they are in immediate danger, phone 999. If they are not in immediate danger, you can contact report your concerns to Health and Social Care Connect on 0141 287 0555 or, for adults, complete an support enquiry/referral.
Is your request urgent?
If you are unable to fill out the online form, and your situation is urgent, you can phone to arrange for someone to complete the form with you:
During office hours you can phone Health and Social Care connect on 0141 287 0555
Outwith office hours (after 4:45pm Monday to Thursday or 3:55pm on a Friday and at weekends) you can contact emergency homelessness services on 0800 838 502
Timescales
Because of the housing emergency, which means there is a shortage of social housing, waiting lists for permanent housing are currently much longer than anyone would want.
We are currently receiving an average of 315 requests for housing advice and over 175 homelessness applications a week so unfortunately, there may be some delay in responding to you. We know it's a worrying time so you will want to know what's happening, but if possible, please do not contact us while you're awaiting a response because this will allow us to assess your situation more quickly.
Homelessness applications are currently taking up to 4 weeks to assess once all the information on the assessment form is complete.
If you are assessed as being homeless and need to move from your current accommodation, you are likely be housed in a bed and breakfast property. If you are unable to find alternative longer-term accommodation by yourself, it will take an of average 44 weeks to provide you with an offer of a one-bedroom home. If you need larger family accommodation it can take more than five years to provide you with an offer of permanent housing.
What the law defines as homelessness?
The law states that you are homeless if you:
- have no accommodation at all
- have somewhere to stay but you cannot gain entry to it (for example, your landlord has changed the locks)
- have somewhere to stay but it is probable that continued occupation of that accommodation will lead to abuse (for example, by neighbours, a former partner or family member)
- have somewhere to stay but it is not reasonable to stay there because of overcrowding and this overcrowding is bad for your health
- have somewhere to stay but its poor standard means it is not reasonable for you to stay there
- have somewhere to stay but you do not have permission to stay there
- are living in either B&B accommodation, a hotel, hostel or refuge
- have been staying with family or friends but they have asked you to leave, and
- usually live in a mobile home (for example, a caravan or boat) but there is nowhere for you to put it.
You are threatened with homelessness if you are likely to become homeless within two months.
What happens to my belongings when I'm homeless?
We have a legal duty to protect your property if you are awaiting a homelessness assessment or have been assessed as homeless or threatened with homelessness. This duty includes the storage of belongings that you are temporarily unable to look after. For example, this may be because there is insufficient space within your temporary accommodation to store your furniture.
The council may:
- arrange storage space and/or accommodation for any pet
- provide this service even if it no longer has a duty to accommodate you
- make a reasonable charge for this service
Do I need to pay for any temporary accommodation you provide?
Housing Benefit may cover some of the costs of temporary accommodation. The amount of Housing Benefit you receive will depend on your personal circumstances, savings and income. We will make every effort to ensure the accommodation found for you is affordable.
Costs which are not covered by Housing Benefit include charges for:
- meals
- heating
- lighting
- hot water
Complex Needs Service In Homelessness
The Complex Needs Service provides a robust and coordinated service to individuals with multiple and complex needs based on a flexible, interdisciplinary service response, and facilitating a structured re-engagement with local care and support services.
For more information about the Complex Needs Service including referral process please phone the service on 0141 553 2801.
Individuals cannot self-refer to this service.
Do you need to contact us?
If you, or the person you are contacting us about, already has an allocated worker you should contact them on the phone number or email address you were provided with.
During office hours, the best way to get advice from Health and Social Care Connect is by completing the relevant online form:
If you need to phone us at Health and Social Care Connect (0141 287 0555) please be aware that phone lines can be busy, and it may take some time to answer your call.
Office opening hours (excluding public holidays) are:
- Monday to Thursday, 8:45am to 4:45pm
- Friday, 8:45am to 3:55pm
Do you need support to contact us?
if English is not your first language, then we will arrange interpreting support
- if British Sign Language is your first language, then you can text our Sign Language Interpreting Service on 07824 300 025 or contact us using the Contact Scotland app
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