Know your rights
1. You don’t have to be sleeping rough to be homeless.
2. The council must help all 16 or 17 year olds who are homeless, and anyone who left care after their 16th birthday and is still under 21 years old.
3. Your local Council must assess your need for housing and they must give you a decision in writing.
Priority need
If you are in “priority need” the council must provide housing for you. Nearly all homeless 16 to 17 year olds will automatically have priority need.
4. You should be entitled to temporary housing while the Council deals with your application. If the Council won’t help, make them give you a written decision explaining why they won’t help.
5. Did you leave care after your 16th birthday, and are you under 18 years old, or studying full time and under 24 years old? Then Social Services has a duty to help you and provide housing if needed.
