You always have a priority need if you or someone you live with:

• is at risk of abuse from a partner, ex or family member

• is pregnant

• lives with their dependent children

• is homeless because of fire, flood or other disasters

When you must prove you are in priority need

You could count as in priority need if you or someone you live with:

• has mental health problems

• is disabled or has a serious health condition

• has spent time in care, prison or the armed forces

• is homeless because of violence from someone who is not a partner or relative

• is very old and frail

You do not get priority need straight away in these situations.

You need to give the council evidence that you are in priority need. This means showing you would be at higher risk than other people if you were street homeless.

You could also have priority need if there is another special reason.

Young people

You always have a priority need if you're a care leaver aged 18 to 20.

You count as a care leaver if you were looked after or housed by social services while you were 16 or 17 even if you do not get social services help now.

You could have priority need if you're aged 16 or 17.

Social services usually looks after homeless people under 18. The council's housing team should give you emergency housing while they ask social services to speak to you.

They should make sure you have somewhere safe to stay before they look into your situation in more detail.