Housing Options Guide 6a

6a. The Homeless Team

If you think you may become homeless, or if you are already in a homeless position, you should talk to our Housing Options Team about your situation.  They can help by discussing your circumstances with you and providing valuable help.  They work closely with our Homeless Team to help you find a successful outcome.

Homeless assessment

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, you will probably have had an interview with our Housing Options Team. They may refer you on to our Homeless Team for further assessment.  

To be considered as a homeless applicant you, and anyone else who lives with you, must fall into one of the following categories:

• You have no accommodation in the UK or anywhere else, that you are allowed to live in
• You will be without accommodation, and homeless, within the next two months
• It is unreasonable to expect you to continue to live in your current home, for various reasons
• You live in a caravan or a boat and have nowhere to pitch or moor it

As part of your assessment the homeless team have to make sure that you are not 'intentionally' homeless.  This means that they must satisfy themselves that you did not do something deliberately which led to your homelessness.  They also need to make sure you did not fail to do something you should have done, such as paying your rent, unless there was a good reason.

Your homeless officer will explain the assessment process to you.  They will aim to reach a final decision on your homeless application within 28 days.  This gives them time to make checks into your situation and find out what caused your homelessness.  They will keep in touch with you and inform you of any progress with your application.

If you are assessed as homeless and in need of temporary accommodation, this will be provided for you.

If you are not happy with the decision made on your homeless application, you can request a review of the decision within 21 days from the date you receive your decision letter.  Your decision letter will give you more details about how to do this.  If you want a review of your homeless decision, you should write a letter explaining why you think the decision is wrong.  You should put as many details as you can into your letter.  

Send your letter to:

Housing Operations Manager
The Moray Council
PO Box 6760
Elgin
IV30 1BX

A senior housing officer who was not involved in your original homeless decision will carry out the review.  If you would like to discuss the review with the relevant senior housing officer, please mention this in your letter.  You have the right to bring along a friend or advisor to your review meeting.