Homelessness
People can become homeless for many reasons but no matter how it happens homelessness can be a very stressful experience
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Whether you qualify as a homeless person depends on your individual circumstances. The Housing Act 1996 - Part VII - amended by the Homelessness Act 2002, sets out the legal duties of local authorities towards people who are homeless or about to be made homeless. However, the Council does not have to provide accommodation to all homeless people.
The Homelessness Strategy  provides you with information on current initiatives and our plans for the future.
| How can Basildon Council help? |
The Council has a duty to provide services to prevent homelessness free of charge to all residents of the district. We do this through the Citizens Advice Bureau, Impact and our own ‘In-house’ Assessment and Advice Services.
If you approach us we will try to prevent your homelessness before you are offered an appointment with a Homelessness Officer. We do this by negotiating on your behalf with:
- Mortgage lenders and landlords;
- Benefit Agencies;
- Housing Officers.
We will also use mediation to assist with differences between yourself and whoever you may have been living with.
If we are unable to prevent homelessness, the Council can help if you:
What to do next?
Call the Housing Assessment line - 01268 294342 or visit during opening hours to find out how we can help you. You can make an assessment enquiry on line by clicking here. We will respond to you within five working days.
Who can help in an emergency?
| Emergency Tel. Nos. | |
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| Basildon Council's Emergency Line | 01268 286622 |
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| Essex Social Services: | 0845 603 7634 |
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| - out of hours | 0845 606 1212 |
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| Basildon Women's Refuge: | 01268 581591 |
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| Basildon Police | 01268 532212 |
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If you are housebound, disabled or currently in hospital, a home visit can be made.
| Are you eligible for assistance? |
Many people from abroad are not eligible for housing assistance, such as those subject to immigration control and those who are not ‘habitually resident’ in the UK, Isle of Man, Channel Islands or Republic of Ireland.
Are you homeless or threatened with homeless within the next 28 days?
Do you, or are you:-
- Have nowhere to stay tonight;
- Staying somewhere but have no legal right to remain and have to leave;
- Locked out of your home and been told not to come back;
- Have somewhere to live but will face violence if you return;
- Forced to leave your home due to harassment;
- Have a mobile home but you have nowhere to put it to live in.
Then you may be considered to be homeless and we may be able to help.
It is important to note that if you have a legal right to live in your accommodation and it is reasonable for you to carry on living there, you are not considered homeless.
You may be considered as priority need if:
- You or a member of your household is pregnant.
- You have dependant children.
- You or a member of your household is elderly or has a physical or mental disability or any other special needs.
- You have become homeless because of an emergency like a fire or flood.
- You would face violence if you remain in your home.
- You have been a member of the Armed Forces for a considerable length of time.
- You have been in custody for a considerable length of time.
- If you are 16/17 years old and have not previously been accommodated by Social Services.
- You have been accommodated by Social Services and are over 21.
- You have other special circumstances.
| Intentionally Homeless | |
Under the homeless law you are ‘intentionally homeless’ if you:-
- Deliberately gave up your home when you could have still lived there.
- Deliberately did or failed to do something which you knew would cause you to lose your home; or
- Entered into an arrangement that you knew would cause you to leave your home so that the Council could house you.
You may be considered to have a local connection if you:-
- Have previously lived in the Basildon area for at least six months in the last year or three in the past five years; or
- Work in Basildon (casual work does not count); or
- Have a close relative living in Basildon who has lived in the area for at least five years; or
- Have any special circumstances.
If you do not have a local connection with Basildon but have one with another authority, we will ask that Council to help you on your behalf.
If we are satisfied that you are:
- Homeless
- In priority need
We will make you an appointment to see a Homelessness Officer. You will be offered interim accommodation whilst enquiries are carried out into all of your circumstances.
| What documentation will I need? |
Further details of documentation that is needed can be found on the Information Page.
The Council tries to avoid the use of bed and breakfast wherever possible. If you are provided with bed and breakfast we will move you as soon as possible
Men and women who are, or have been subjected to domestic violence or threats, may be entitled to additional help. If you are a Council tenant you may be entitled to a Management Transfer and you should contact your Estate Officer to discuss this possibility.
Download the Domestic Violence Leaflet for more information.
| What if I don't agree with a decision? |
If you do not agree with any decision made on your homeless application, you are legally entitled to review. For more information on your right to a review, please click on Reviews.
If you re single you many not be considered as 'priority need' but we may help. The Council works with both NACRO and the Basildon Foyer to address single people who are homeless.
NACRO  is a single accommodation project that provides accommodation for people who are not ready for independent living in the short term.
The Basildon Foyer meets the needs of young people by addressing not only needs but also education, training and employment.
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