Supporting Homeless People

This information is designed to help you understand the homeless process and why questions are asked at your interview. The government has set out a number of enquiries that First Choice Homes Oldham has to follow to satisfy itself that it owes you a duty. We will carry out an assessment to establish if you:

are eligible for assistance;
are homelessare in priority need;
are intentionally homeless; or
have a local connection with the area.

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.

We can help you if you have nowhere to live or won’t have in the future. We can offer you advice, assistance and possibly housing. What we can do will depend on your situation but we will always give you practical advice and assistance to help you to find a new home.

Am I Eligible For Assistance?

Most people are eligible for assistance. 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; or
you are not normally resident in the UK or are living here illegally.

What Does Homeless Mean?

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;
you 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 all to live together.

These are examples only. If you think that you may be homeless, or worried about becoming homeless, you should get contact First Choice Homes Oldham, as early as you can. We might be able to find a way to stay in your home or find a new home quickly.

Who is in 'Priority' Need?

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:

old 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; and
ex-prisoners.

Intentionally Homeless?

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 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; and
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; or
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.

What is a Local Connection?

First Choice Homes Oldham 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; or
There are special reasons why you need to live in Oldham.

If you have a local connection with another borough and you are found to be homeless, in priority need and not intentionally homeless, First Choice Homes Oldham will normally refer you to that Council and ask them to rehouse you.

Approaching First Choice Homes Oldham for Help if You Are Homeless

Which office do I go to and where is it?

If you are homeless now or won’t have anywhere to live within the next 28 days, you should contact First Choice Homes Oldham:

First Choice Homes Oldham,
1 Medtia Square,
Phoenix street,
Oldham OL1 1AN

TELEPHONE: 0161 770 4555/3556
FAX: 0161 770 3557

The Housing Options Centre is open:

Monday - Friday 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Wednesday 10.00 am - 5.00 pm

If you are roofless and feel you need an emergency appointment, please contact us and discuss this with the duty Homelessness Officer. We also have a ‘drop in’ session on Wednesdays from 11.00 a.m. – 3.00 p.m., where you can just turn up and see an adviser. In the case of a genuine emergency you will always be seen but you may have to wait a short time to see someone.

Special Needs

We can help you if you have any special needs. If you require this leaflet in large print, in Braille, on audiotape, please ask a member of staff in the Housing Options Centre who will be happy to arrange this for you.

Help With Language

We can arrange an interpreter for you, if English is not your first language. It may be necessary to make an appointment, as we can’t always cover every eventuality immediately.

'Out of Hours' Service

What do I do if I'm homeless when offices are closed?

For people who become homeless when our offices are closed, we provide an ‘Out of Hours’ Service.

The service is for emergencies only and can only give you general advice and assist you to find temporary, emergency accommodation.

You can contact the 'Out of Hours' service, after 5.00 pm. – 9.00am each weekday, or anytime at weekends and Bank Holidays, by telephoning 0794 000 8834.

Our Decision

We must tell you in writing of our decision in your homeless application. We aim to notify you of our decision within 33 working days from the date you applied as homeless.

When Will I Get Housed?

If we accept that you are homeless, eligible for assistance, in priority need, unintentionally homeless and have a local connection, we will place your application for housing on our Housing Register with priority points.

When your application reaches the top of the waiting list, we will contact you and offer you accommodation.