Broadly speaking you are homeless if you do not have a home. If you do not have any rights to stay where you are living, having a roof over your head will not stop you from being homeless.
Living with friends, living in accommodation that is temporary or that is overcrowded, sleeping on the streets, living in accommodation that is making you ill or living in a place where you are at risk of violence are all situations which could make you homeless.
If you are currently in any of the above situations your local Council may have a legal responsibility to help you.
How do you become homeless?
Homelessness can occur for a range of reasons, some of which may be out of your control.
Eviction from a rented accommodation by your landlord, inability to pay the rent or mortgage as a result of job loss, health / relationship problems and factors such as flooding or fire could leave you without a home.
How to prevent homelessness?
The key to preventing the loss of your home is to get advice and guidance as soon as you possibly can. Throughout Shropshire there are a range of agencies and services that are there for this very reason. An advisor might be able to help you stay in your home or help you find new accommodation quickly.
For more information, please contact our Housing Options Team who will be able to help you and advise you of your housing rights.