The Council has duties laid down in legislation about how it must respond to homelessness applicants. It must then follow the framework laid out in the Housing Act to determine what assistance the Council must offer.
The Council must also publish a Homelessness Strategy, which is based on a review of homelessness in the district. Please click on the link to view our Homelessness Strategy & Action Plan: Preventing Homelessness in Oldham 2010 - 2013 (PDF).
The framework of the homelessness legislation has five tests. The Council has a duty to find a home for households who:
are homeless by definition of the Housing Act 1996 (as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002
are eligible for public funds (this is an Immigration issue)
are in priority need
are unintentionally homeless
have a local connection
If you are not within one of these groups, you will be offered advice and assistance to help you find your own accommodation. In either case you need to contact the FCHO Homlessness and Housing Advice service to seek assistance.
Homelessness means not having a home. Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless. This could be because you do not have any rights to stay where you live or your home might be unsuitable for you. You might be homeless or threatened with homelessness if you:
have nowhere to live or are threatened with having nowhere to live;
can only stay temporarily with friends or family;
are at risk of violence or harassment in your home;
are likely to be evicted within 28 days;
have somewhere to live, but it is not reasonable for you to remain there;
have been locked out of your home and are not allowed back in; or
you have to live apart because there is nowhere suitable for you and other members of your household to live together.
Most people are eligible for assistance. However, you are probably not eligible for assistance if:
you are an asylum seeker
you are from abroad and have limits to your rights to stay in the UK
you are not entitled to claim public funds
you are not normally resident in the UK or are living here illegally
Some groups of people are more vulnerable to homelessness because they have particular needs, have fewer rights or are less able to cope by themselves. These include:
older people
young people
people at risk of violence at home
people made homeless as a result of fire, flooding or some other disaster
people with physical or mental health problems
people with children or who are pregnant
ex-prisoners
This is a very complicated area of law and each application is looked at individually. You may be intentionally homeless if we feel you have made yourself homeless by your own actions. Examples include:
if you have deliberately given up accommodation when you could have continued to live there
if you are evicted for rent or mortgage arrears due to a consistent refusal to pay
if you choose to sell your home where there is no risk of losing it
if you are evicted for anti-social behaviour, for example harassment
We are unlikely to consider you intentionally homeless if it is decided that:
it was not reasonable for you to stay in your last home
you left your home because of domestic violence or fear of violence
your home went with your job and you lost it through no fault of your own, or you gave it up for good reason, because you did not know your rights
The Council has to establish if you have a 'local connection' with Oldham. You may have a local connection if:
you have lived in Oldham for 6 out of the last 12 months or for 3 out of the last 5 years
you have permanent employment in the Oldham
because of family associations
there are special reasons why you need to live in Oldham
You need to contact the Homelessness & Housing Advice Service. This service is provided for the Council by First Choice Homes Oldham and the team is based at the Housing Options Centre in Medtia Square. The team ensure that people who may be homeless, or at risk of homelessness, have information on housing options available to them. They also advise on a range of housing issues to help prevent homelessness and can refer people for housing support if needed.
The Homelessness and Housing Advice Service can be accessed by:
Phone: 0800 328 7788
Email: homeless@oldham.gov.uk
Fax: 0161 770 3557
Letter: Housing Options Centre, First Choice Homes Oldham, 1 Medtia Square, Phoenix Street, Oldham OL1 1AN
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk/fcho_home
The opening hours are:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 11am-5pm
Thursday 9am – 6pm
Weekends and Bank Holidays: Closed
Emergency out of hours telephone:
0800 988 7061 - 24 hours – 7 days a week
Please note this emergency number is for people who become homeless when the offices are closed and should not be used once you are receiving a service.
Housing Associations
There are a number of Housing Associations that have properties in the Oldham area. To see a list of local Housing Associations click here.
Private landlords
You may be able to find your own private accommodation through a landlord via a Lettings or Estate Agent or local newspapers.
Oldham Council runs a Landlord Accreditation Scheme. To join the scheme the landlord & the property must meet certain standards. To find out more about the scheme click here.
The Council also operates a Bond Scheme which is managed by First Choice Homes Oldham. This scheme can help customers on low incomes to access private rented acommodation.
Buying a property
If you are working and have some savings, you may be able to consider getting a mortgage and 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.
A number of agencies provide supported accommodation in Oldham:
Threshold Housing Project
Name: Threshold Housing Project
Description: Supported accommodation for men & women aged 16-60 yrs
Tel: Head Office- 0161 626 0844
Spring Street Hostel- Male only- 0161 624 2934
Shepley House Hostel- Female Only- 0161 681 4208
Email: springstreetteam@thp.org.uk- Spring Street
shepleystreetteam@thp.org.uk- Shepley House
Website: www.thp.org.uk
Address: Threshold, AKSA, Medtia Square, Oldham OL1 1AN
Name: Threshold Housing Project - Glamorgan Place Project
Description: Young Parent's Unit
Tel: 0161 785 9426
Email: Glamorganplaceteam@thp.org.uk
Website: www.thp.org.uk
Address: 7 Glamorgan Place, Werneth, Oldham OL9 7ST
Depaul UK
Name: Depaul UK
Description: Accommodation based project for 8 young people 16-23 yrs with
medium/high support needs
Tel: 0161 624 9155
Email: porter.street@depauluk.org
Website: www.depauluk.org
Address: 1-9 Porter Street, Werneth, Oldham OL9 7QF
English Churches Housing Group
Name: English Churches Supported Housing
Description: Accommodation with support for males aged 18-65 yrs, particularly with connections with the criminal justice system.
Tel: Enquiries- 0161 624 8891 / 0161 620 5928
Email: enquiries@echg.org.uk
Website: www.echg.org.uk
Address: 21-25 Thompson Lane, Chadderton, Oldham OL9 8LX
Turning Point
Name: Turning Point Women's Housing & Move-On Service (WHAMS)
Description: Supported Housing for single women & women with 1 child aged up to
2 yrs in 5 self-contained flats
Tel: 0161 620 8794
Email: info@turning-point.co.uk
Website: www.turning-point.co.uk
Address: 41a Primrose Bank, Oldham OL8 1HL
Name: Turning Point Abstinent Supported Housing
Description: Supported Housing for men & women with drug or alcohol problems &
who have been abstinent for 3 months minimum
Tel: 0161 620 0232
Email: info@turning-point.co.uk
Website: www.turning-point.co.uk
Address: 41a Primrose Bank, Oldham OL8 1HL
Oldham Family Crisis Group
Name: Oldham Family Crisis Group
Description: Refuge accommodation & community based services for single women
& children. Specialist services for South Asian women throughout
Tel: 0161 628 4991
Email: outreach@ofcg.org
Website: www.ofcg.org
Address: PO Box 82, Oldham OL8 3YZ
First Choice Homes Oldham Supported Lodgings Scheme
Name: First Choice Homes Oldham Supported Lodgings Scheme
Description: Provide a supported lodging scheme for people not ready to live on their own
Tel: 0161 770 3558
Email: support@oldham.gov.uk
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk/fcho_home
Address: First Choice Homes, 1 Medtia Square, Phoenix Street, Oldham OL1 1AN
Oldham Citizens Advice Bureau
Name: Citizens Advice Bureau
Description: Free independent advice on legal, housing, money and other issues
Tel: 0161 620 9317
Email: info@oldhamcab.org.uk
Website: www.oldhamcab.co.uk
Address: 1 & 2 Ascroft Court, Peter Street, Oldham OL1 1HP
Oldham Law Centre
Name: Oldham Law Centre
Description: Free independent advice on legal, housing, money & other issues
Tel: 0161 0161 627 0925
Email: admin@oldhamlawcentre.org
Address: First Floor, Archway House, Bridge Street Oldham
Shelter Housing Advice
Name: Shelter Housing Advice
Description: Advice & advocacy service to help those at risk of homelessness
Tel: Urgent- 08088 004 444 Local number- 08445 151 640
Email: info@shelter.org.uk
Website: www.england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice
Address: Ground Floor, Victoria House, 5 Samuel Ogden Street, Manchester M1 7AX
Oldham Reconnect
Name: Oldham Reconnect
Description: Family mediation service to help young people aged 16-25 yrs rebuild relationships with family or other significant people
Tel: 0161 621 9433 / 07811451648
Email: oldham.reconnect@depauluk.org
Website: www.depauluk.org
Address: The Centre, Medtia Place, 80 Union Street, Oldham OL1 1DT
Key to the Door
Name: Key to the Door
Description: Provides training & support for young parents. Holds weekly drop-in for
housing & other advice
Tel: 0161 633 9242
Email: keytothedoor@btconnect.com
Address: 8 Eldon Precinct, Oldham OL8 1JP
Barnardo's Messenger Service
Name: Barnardos's Messenger Service
Description: Work with young people under 18 who are being sexually exploited or
at risk of exploitation
Tel: 0161 652 6081
Freephone: 0808 202 0880
Email: bms@barnardos.org.uk
Website: www.barnardos.co.uk
Salvation Army
Name: Salvation Army
Description: Weekly drop-in for homeless & vulnerable people (food provided)
Provide food parcels on request from service providers (supporting
letter required)
Tel: 0161 624 5551
Email: Karen.ogden@salvationarmy.org.uk
Website: www.salvationarmy.org.uk
Address: The Salvation Army, Chamber Road, Oldham OL8 1JF
Forced Marriage Unit
Name: Forced Marriage Unit
Description: Confidential advice to anyone who is worried about being forced into
marriage overeseas or is worried about a friend or relative
Tel: 0207 008 0151
Email: fmu@fco.gov.uk / fmuoutreach@fco.gov.uk
Website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/fco-in-action/nationals/forced-marriage-unit/
Women's Aid
Name: Women's Aid National Domestic Violence Helpline
Description: Advice & support for women experiencing domestic violence
Tel: 0808 2000 247
Email: helpline@womensaid.org.uk
Website: www.womensaid.org.uk
Address: Women's Aid Federation of England, Head Office, PO Box 391, Bristol
BS99 7WS
Greater Manchester Domestic Violence Helpline
Name: Greater Manchester Domestic Violence Helpline
Description: Advice & support for women experiencing domestic violence
Tel: 0161 839 8574
Sanctuary Scheme
Name: Sanctuary Scheme
Description: Home security measures for victims of domestic abuse
Tel: 0161 770 1572
Email: Sanctuary.scheme@oldham.gov.uk
Tenancy Relations Officer
Name: Tenancy Relations Officer
Description: Help in dealing with complaints or queries about private landlords
Tel: 0161 770 4463
Fax 0161 770 4585
Email: tenancy.relations@oldham.gov.uk
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk/fcho_home
Address: Housing Options Centre, First Choice Homes Oldham, 1 Medtia Square,
Phoenix Street,Oldham OL1 1AN
Private Sector Housing Team
Name: Private Sector Housing Team
Description: Deal with private sector housing issues such as landlord accreditation,
overcrowding,disrepair & houses in multiple occupation
Tel: 0161 770 4461
Email: landlord.accreditation@oldham.gov.uk
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk
Address: Level 2, Oldham Business Centre, Cromwell Street, Oldham OL1 1BB
Adult Duty & Intervention Service
Name: Adult Duty & Intervention Service
Description: Assessment for eligibility to receive community care services
Tel: 0161 770 1515
Fax: 0161 770 1519
Email: adis@oldham.gov.uk
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk
Address: Adult Duty & Intervention Service, The Link Centre, 140 Union Street,
Oldham OL1 1DZ
Action for Children
Name: Action for Children
Description: Housing related floating support for families whose tenancies are
threatened as a result of anti social behaviour
Tel: 0161 652 1223 or 0161 678 6377
Email: david.bazell@actionforchildren.org.uk
Website: www.actionforchildren.org.uk
Address: Action for Children Oldham, Families Project, Block E, 2nd Floor,
Brunswick Square, Union, Street, Oldham OL1
Housing & Council Tax Benefits
Name: Housing & Council Tax Benefit
Description: Help with housing & council tax costs
Tel: 0161 770 6633
Email: contact@oldham.gov.uk (1 enquiry per email)
Website: www.oldham.gov.uk
Address: Civic Centre,West Street, Oldham OL1 1UH
This factsheet provides detials of drop-in centres & winter shelters for homeless people in the local area.
Updated: Feb2010/CO/Housing/EPS