Doncaster Council

Who is homeless?

In the majority of cases, you are homeless if you, have nowhere to stay or will have nowhere to stay within 28 days. If this applies to you please contact the Housing Options Team on the details above.

Calls are dealt with by trained staff who will deal with your enquiry in the strictest confidence. You have a right to advice and assistance to prevent you from becoming homeless if possible, or to help find a new place to stay.

What does homeless mean?

It is a legal requirement that the Council carried out certain enquiries in order to make a decision if you are homeless and if the Council has a duty to help.

You are homeless, or are threatened with homelessness if you:

• have nowhere to live in this country or anywhere else in the world
• cannot live at home because of threats of violence or actual violence from someone who lives or has lived with you
• have nowhere you can live together with your family
• have been locked out of your home and are not allowed back in
• live in a boat, mobile home or caravan and there is nowhere you can put it
• have somewhere for you to live but it is not reasonable for you to remain there or return.

Being threatened with homelessness means you are likely to become homeless within 28 days.

If the Council decides you are homeless, we will look at whether you:

• are eligible for assistance
• in 'priority need'
• became homeless intentionally (intentionally homeless)
• have a local connection with the Doncaster borough area

What does eligible for assistance mean?

Certain categories of people are not eligible for assistance and these are:

• if you are an asylum seeker
• if you are from abroad and your right to remain in the UK is limited
• if you are not entitled to claim public funds 
• if you are not normally resident in the UK or are living here illegally                              

If you fall into one of these categories you are entitled to free housing advice. Please contact the Housing Options Team for details.

What does priority need mean?

You are in priority need if:

• you are responsible for dependent children
• you, or someone you live with is pregnant
• you are homeless because of fire, flood or other disaster
• you are vulnerable because of old age, disability, learning difficulties or have mental health problems
• you are 16 or 17 years old
• you are 18 - 20 years old and have been in local authority care
• being in HM regular forces
• other special reasons                                

We have a responsibility to you and anyone who lives with you if you are homeless and in priority need. 

When we investigate your homeless application you will be asked to provide evidence to support that you are in priority need. Evidence can be in the form of a letter from a doctor, social worker or other key worker who is helping you. If you or your partner is pregnant we will also ask to see documents confirming the pregnancy.

What does intentionally homeless mean?

If we believe that you have made yourself homeless as a result of your own actions we may say that you are intentionally homeless. This may mean that even if you are homeless and in priority need we do not have a duty to find accommodation for you or your family.

The following are examples of intentional homelessness:

• if you are evicted for rent or mortgage arrears due to consistent refusal to pay 
• if you chose to sell your house/flat where there is no risk of losing it
• if you voluntarily give up accommodation either here or abroad, where it was reasonable for you to continue to live in
• if you have been evicted for anti social behaviour
• if you voluntarily give up a job where you live-in and it would have been reasonable for you to have continued in that job

These are only examples.  Each case is very carefully examined to take account of all your circumstances.

What is local connection?

If you are found to be homeless, eligible for assistance, in priority need and not intentionally homeless, we then aim to establish whether you have a connection with the Doncaster area.

What does local connection mean?

• If you have lived in Doncaster Council area for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years
• If you have a job in the area
• If your immediate family live in the area
• If you need to live in the area for other special circumstances                     

If you have only recently arrived in Doncaster, you may not have a connection with the area.  We will establish the area you have a connection with and refer your application to that Council for rehousing unless there are specific reasons why you cannot return.

Temporary accommodation

Temporary accommodation is sometimes required while a decision is made on your homeless application. There is a limited supply of temporary accommodation within the borough. Choice is not usually possible as it depends on availability. In emergencies and extreme cases we will use bed and breakfast accommodation.

Our decision

We must inform you of our decision on your homeless application in writing. 

You will receive our written decision within 3 working days of completing our investigations.

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit

If we do offer you temporary or permanent accommodation, you may be eligible to claim Housing Benefit to help you pay the rent and you may be able to claim Council Tax Benefits. We will give you a form to claim these benefits when we offer you accommodation. 

What if I'm not accepted?

At any stage of our enquiries we can make a decision that means you are not homeless, not eligible for assistance, not in priority need, or homeless intentionally through your own actions.  If you have no local connection with Doncaster usually you will be referred to an area where you have a connection.

If this decision is made by the Housing Options Team you still have the right to housing advice to assist you with finding accommodation.

If you feel we have made an incorrect decision on your application, you do have the right to a review of the application.  This should be done in writing within 21 days of the decision to:

Senior Housing Options Officer  
Kings Mews,
64-66 East laith Gate,
Doncaster,
DN1 1JD

A review of your case will be carried out and a decision on your appeal will be sent to you in writing.. 

You can contact other agencies that offer housing advice for help with this, such as Shelter, The Citizens' Advice Bureau or a solicitor.

Where do I go for help?

The Housing Options Service is located in the town centre at Kings Mews, 64 -66 East Laith Gate, Doncaster, DN1 1JD.

You can make a homelessness application at this office and receive housing advice on any housing related matter. You can also receive help on how to contact other services on more specialist matters such as counselling, debt or immigration issues.

Council housing

To be considered for Council accommodation you need to complete a Housing Register Application Form.  Application forms are available from St Leger Homes, an Arms Length Management Organisation which manages properties on behalf of Doncaster Council, a link to an electronic version of this form on the St Leger Homes website is available below:

http://www.stlegerhomes.co.uk/apply_for_a_home.aspx

Housing Associations

There are a variety of housing associations that offer accommodation in Doncaster and the Council can nominate applicants for housing to most housing associations.  You can also apply direct to an individual association. You can find details about housing associations in Doncaster at any area housing office or at the Homelessness and Advice office, Kings Mews, 64-66 East Laith Gate, Doncaster.

• Housing Associations in Doncaster               

Private renting

Private rented accommodation is available and there are a variety of ways of finding rented accommodation. You can contact a lettings or estate agent or look in newspapers, local shop windows or by word of mouth. Free advice on private renting is available from the Homelessness and Advice Office, Kings Mews, 64-66 East Laith Gate, Doncaster.

Buying a property

If you are working, you may be able to consider buying a property. Most banks or building societies will give you a free quotation on whether you could get a mortgage with them, and how much your repayments would be. Getting a mortgage can be difficult though if you have previous debts and a bad credit rating.

Doncaster Foyer

Doncaster Foyer is owned and run by Salvation Army Housing Association and is located on Chequer Road next to the clinic. The Foyer provides accommodation, support and training under one roof for 40 young single people aged between 16 and 25 years old. Residents are able to stay at The Foyer for up to 2 years with the aim of moving on to more independent accommodation. All residents are allocated a key worker to assist them during their tenancy and they are expected to sign up to a personal development plan. Doncaster Foyer is an accredited Foyer and provides residents access to the inhouse City and Guilds Profile of Achievement qualification.

For information about Doncaster Foyer contact: (01302) 764800 

or visit the website www.saha.org.uk

YMCA

Doncaster YMCA on Wood Street provides housing and support for young people aged between 18 and 25 years. YMCA provides 26 furnished apartments for young people and amongst the support available is a life skills programme and support for residents who have moved to more independent accommodation.

Applications will be accepted directly from individuals or by referral from appropriate agencies. Application forms are available from the YMCA, Wood Street, Doncaster.

Tel: (01302) 342148

e-mail: olivia.britton@doncaster.ymca.org.uk

Doncaster Housing for Young People - DHYP

Doncaster Housing for Young People (DHYP) provide support and accommodation for 16 - 25 year olds.  A supported lodgings scheme, outreach and advice services for young vulnerable, homeless people are available to encourage sustainable independent living. Homelessness prevention work is undertaken to help vulnerable young people successfully maintain their tenancies.

Tel: (01302) 321956 / 321953 / 738198

e-mail: dhyp@chequerrd.fsnet.co.uk

Women's Aid

Women's Aid is the national charity working to end domestic violence against women and children.  Women's Aid provides confidential advice, support and temporary accommodation for women and their children.

Tel: (01302) 326411

Asian Women Advice Line: (01302) 340063

Freephone 24 Hour National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Fax: (01302) 321432 

e-mail: mail@doncaster-womens-aid.co.uk

Shelter

Shelter, the housing and homelessness charity, believes everyone needs a home in a place where they can thrive. 

They help over 170,000 people a year fight for their rights, get back on their feet, and find and keep a home. They also tackle the root causes of bad housing by campaigning for new laws, policies, and solutions.

For advice and information, visit their website through this link, Shelter.