This page explains the process of applying as homeless for young people and how advisers can support a young person in making an application.

What the law says

Councils must take a homelessness application when a young person approaches them for housing assistance and they have reason to believe they may be homeless (or threatened with homelessness within 28 days).

If, additionally, there is also reason to believe that the young person is eligible for assistance and has a priority need, the council should provide suitable interim accommodation while it is processing the application.

All councils should have an emergency service for taking applications and arranging accommodation outside of office hours.

What enquiries will the council make?

The council should make enquiries to establish if the young person:

• is actually homeless or threatened with homelessness
• is eligible for assistance
• has a priority need
• is intentionally homeless.

The answers to these questions will determine what duty the council has towards the young person. These duties range from a duty to give the young person advice and assistance, to a full housing duty.

Local connection

The council can also make inquiries to establish if the young person has a local connection with the area. This is only relevant if it has a full duty; the council can then refer the young person to another area if they do not have a local connection. The council cannot refuse to provide interim accommodation because the young person has no local connection.

When will a decision be made?

The council should normally reach a decision on the application within 33 working days. The decision should be given to the young person in writing, explain why the decision was reached (if it is not in their interests), and explain that they have a right to request a review of the decision (please see the page on homelessness reviews for more information).

How can I help?

Interview the young person about their situation

Try to ascertain whether they are homeless, eligible, have a priority need, may be intentionally homelessness, and have a local connection before they approach the council. This helps in three ways:

• It can help the young person know what to expect the council to ask about when they approach it, and why they are being asked about it.
• It can help you to identify potential problems with the application and advise the young person accordingly.
• It can help you to advise the young person about the probable outcome of their application, and their options depending on that outcome.

Help the young person to gather evidence

This should prove or suggest that they are homeless, eligible, and have a priority need, where relevant. Although it is the council's duty to make enquiries to establish this, it often helps to get an application taken and for the council to provide interim accommodation if a young person can provide some evidence initially.

Telephone the council to make an appointment for the young person

The council may be less likely to try to refuse to take an application if an adviser telephones. Please see the page on gatekeeping if it is an emergency and the council refuse to see the young person and provide accommodation that day.

Write to the council

If the young person is having difficulty making an application, or you suspect that they might have difficulty in making the application or explaining their situation to the council, then you can write a letter outlining the applicant's situation. A standard application letter is available to download. This can then be faxed to the council, or the young person can take it with them.

What if the council will not take the application?

Sometimes councils refuse to take an application or provide interim accommodation for one reason or another. This is known as 'gatekeeping', and may be unlawful.

Be prepared

Find out the details of the council's out of hours emergency service and have the telephone details available to give to a young person who may require it.