The Homeless Process
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you can contact us for support. This is referred to as a homeless application.
Who can apply?
Applications can be made by the person who is homeless or threatened with homelessness, or by someone on their behalf.
This could be someone acting in a professional capacity, for example a solicitor, adviser or social worker. Or it could be made by a friend or relative, if the applicant is unable to make an application for themselves.
How to apply
Applications do not need to be in writing, nor in any other particular form. The person making the application needs to contact the council and inform us that you (or the person you know) are seeking accommodation or seeking assistance in retaining/obtaining accommodation.
You could make an application by:
- calling the Customer Service team on 01664 502 502,
- emailing contactus@melton.gov.uk and outlining your case,
- writing to Housing Options, Melton Borough Council Parkside, Station Approach, Burton Road, Melton Mowbray, LE13 1GH and outlining your case.
Each of the above methods would constitutes making a homeless application. The housing options team would then confirm if they owe a homeless duty to you.
A request for a transfer or an application to go on the housing register may be treated as a homeless application, for example where the applicant's current housing conditions make it unreasonable for them to continue to occupy their home.
What happens after I make an application?
After you've made an application you will be invited to an interview to discuss your application.
The interview is informal and is an opportunity for you to let us know more details of your case. During the meeting we will ask you the following questions:
- Why are you homeless or threatened with homelessness?
- Do you have any documents or contacts to support this?
- Do you have dependents and/or have a medical issue?
- What is your current financial situation?
- Your address history
When you come to the interview it is important that you bring the right documents with you, otherwise you may not be able to get the help you need.
You will get an information pack when you book your interview, this will either be on paper or e-mailed to you. This pack will tell you what documents to provide. It will also have a link to a website where you can answer some quick questions about your household and your situation.
During the interview, you will be given the name and contact details of your Housing Options Officer.
We will also discuss with you about any referrals to support agencies that may be able to assist you.
For more information on the homelessness interview, you can look at the Shelter website in the ‘How to make a homeless application’ section.
Following your interview, your Housing Options Officer will run through a number of options with you. This could include:
- Options to help you stay in the property if safe to do so, including safety measures, paying of rent arrears or negotiating with your landlord.
- Looking at realistic alternative housing options, including supported accommodation, private renting and if the housing register is a viable option for your needs.
- Signposting you to the right agencies at the right time.
- Looking at your financial situation to see if there's anything we can do to assist
We will expect you to keep in regular contact with your housing options officer and discuss with them any difficulties you may have in achieving the actions set out for you in your Personalised Housing Plan.
When assessing homeless applications and offering accommodation, we take the following into account:
- Location of property and availability of transport
- Any health issues and access to medical facilities
- No of bedrooms and no of people in your household
- Security of tenure
- Affordability
- Access to support you receive or support you provide
Properties could be in the private or social rented sector. If we offer you a property as part of our homeless duties, it is likely this will be the only offer.
If you do not agree with our offer of property you can appeal the decision but we strongly recommend reading the advice from Shelter.
How to appeal
If you are unhappy with any our decision about the type of homeless duty owed to you, the offer of property to you, you can appeal the decision by email to housingoptions@melton.gov.uk. Please title your email "APPEAL" and this will be looked at by the Strategic Lead for Supporting Communities.
Our duties to you
If you have made a homeless application, we will look to provide you with temporary accommodation should you need it. This type of accommodation is short term, whilst we try and prevent your homelessness.
As part of the process will we provide you with the appropriate assistance and guidance to assistance to help with your move, such as support in registering for schools and GP's, access to domestic abuse services, if required.
We will provide storage for any belongings that cant be accommodated elsewhere as well as offering financial assistance for deposits, rent in advance to secure accommodation for you.