What is priority need?

A priority need is a special reason why the council must give you more help if you:

• are homeless now

• could be homeless in the next 2 months

If you're homeless, the council must usually give you emergency housing if you need it.

Some people always have a priority need. For example, people who are:

• pregnant or have children

• homeless because of domestic abuse

• aged 18 to 20 and were in care when aged 16 or 17

What does vulnerable mean?

The council might say you have to be 'vulnerable' to get help.

Vulnerable has a special meaning in housing law. It means you are more at risk if you become homeless than most other people. For example, because of:

• an illness, disability or serious health condition

• another special reason

You only have to show you are vulnerable if you're not someone who always counts as priority need.

You need to answer questions and show information so the council can decide if you have a priority need because you're vulnerable. 

You do not have to show you are vulnerable if you have children, are pregnant or are homeless because of domestic abuse. You already count as priority need.

Why priority need is important

Priority need is important because it means the council must give you emergency housing if you need it when homeless. You must also meet immigration conditions to get this help.

Find out how to:

• get emergency housing if you're already homeless and have a priority need

• make a homeless application at your council if you could be homeless in the next 8 weeks