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;
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.
This service may be able to help you.
Strategic Homelessness
Homeless and Housing Options Advice 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 Strategic Homelessness Team is based within Oldham Council and leads on the implementation of the 2006-2010 Homelessness Strategy. A part of this work includes monitoring homelessness services, identifying gaps in services & planning future homelessness services to meet the needs of people in Oldham.
The Homeless and Housing Options service is for people who require general housing and housing options advice. Anyone who may find themselves homeless, or at risk of being homeless including young people, older people, single people, couple and families.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
The Homeless and Housing Options service can be accessed directly on the details below
Phone: 0161 770 4555 / 3556
Fax: 0161 770 3557
Email: Fcho.homeless@oldham.gov.uk
Postal: Housing Options, First Choice Homes Oldham, 1 Medtia Square, Phoenix Street, Oldham OL1 1AN
Opening hours:
Monday, Tuesday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Wednesday 11am-5pm
Thursday 9am – 6pm
Weekends and bank holidays: Closed
Emergency out of hours telephone:
07940 008 834 - 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.
Updated: DL 07/2008