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HOMELESS OR ABOUT TO BE
A GUIDE TO GLASGOW CITY COUNCIL'S HOMELESSNESS SERVICE
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1 Contents
What to do if you are homeless or about to be 2
Where to go if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness 5
Why do you need an interview? 6
Who is homeless? 7
What does intentionally homeless mean? 8
What is Local Connection? 9
What you can do to help 10
The help we can offer you 11
What happens next? 11
Your right to a review if you do not agree with our decision 12
What if I am not happy with the service I get? 13
Where else can I get advice? 13
Contact details 14
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What to do if you are 2 homeless or about to be
The purpose of this leaflet is to explain how Glasgow City Council provides its Homelessness Service, how it can be accessed and how it works. This is a brief guide and if you would like more information about our services please contact any of our offices listed at the back of the leaflet or visit www.glasgow.gov.uk/housingoptions
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
Every year Glasgow City Council 3 providing free advice and provides services to households information to people who who find themselves homeless are homeless or threatened or about to be homeless. with homelessness Having a home is very important to everyone and it can be preventing homelessness distressing to be homeless. That where possible is why Glasgow City Council try helping people find to ease this situation as much as somewhere to live possible by: providing support where required making sure people know about the services and support we provide making sure people get temporary accommodation when they need it making sure people do not have to stay long in temporary accommodation.
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You can get help from Glasgow If you have nowhere to stay, 4 City Council if you feel that you or are not able to stay in your are homeless or are about to home and are eligible for become homeless. If you are homelessness assistance, we threatened with homelessness, will offer you temporary we will try to prevent you from accommodation. We have losing your home where possible. different types of temporary accommodation throughout You are threatened with Glasgow including assessment homelessness if you will lose your centres, projects, temporary home within the next two months. furnished flats, supported accommodation and at times If you think that you are homeless, Bed and Breakfast type or at risk of becoming homeless, accommodation. we will make sure that you are offered an interview at your local Community Casework Team, or outwith normal office hours at the Hamish Allan Centre.
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
5 Where to go if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness
The Council has 3 Casework The addresses and telephone Teams across Glasgow. numbers of the Community You can make a homelessness Casework Teams and the application at your local Hamish Allan Centre are at the Community Casework Team back of this leaflet. or go and get advice and assistance. You will be able to When you contact us we will: talk in confidence and privacy to one of our Caseworkers. offer you a private interview with a trained Caseworker If you find yourself homeless offer you temporary outwith normal office hours then accommodation if you can phone or call into the appropriate Hamish Allan Centre. There is provide an interpreter or a free phone number at the end sign-language service if of this leaflet which you can use you need one 24 hours a day. offer you an interview with a Caseworker of the same sex.
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You will be required to provide We will arrange an interview on 6 identification for all members of the day you contact us. If it is your household, so if you can out of hours, we may offer you bring this along with you to your temporary accommodation and initial interview it would be useful. arrange for a full interview for the If you work, proof of income will next working day. be required. If it will help, you can bring someone with you to the interview, for example a friend, relative or adviser.
Why do you need an interview?
The interview is to help us assess Your answers to these questions the best way to help you. We will allow us to assess your need to find out whether you are application and find out how we homeless or threatened with can help you. homelessness. Your Caseworker will explain We will ask you a number of this process and tell you what questions, as required by enquiries we may need to legislation; this is called a make to reach a decision on Homelessness Assessment. your application.
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
7 The questions are about the Who is homeless? following things: You can be homeless if: Are you homeless? Are you intentionally you do not have anywhere homeless? to stay Do you have a local your house is not safe to connection to Glasgow? live in you are fleeing domestic violence your landlord has stopped you accessing your house your house is overcrowded and a danger to your health you are at risk of abuse or threats of abuse you are living in a hostel or bed and breakfast it is not reasonable for you to continue living in the accommodation.
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What does intentionally 8 homeless mean?
You are intentionally homeless if you deliberately do anything or fail to do anything which results in you ceasing to occupy accommodation which was available and reasonable for you to occupy.
If we decide that you have become homeless intentionally, we still need to give you advice and assistance to find somewhere to live. You will get temporary accommodation if you need it for a reasonable period of time to enable you to find somewhere to stay. We will provide you with advice and assistance to support you to do this.
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
9 What is Local Connection?
You will have a local connection If you need to live in Glasgow to Glasgow if you: for other reasons we will take these into account. However, this does not guarantee that have lived in the area for at we will accept that you have least six months a local connection. have lived in Glasgow for six months of the last year If you do not have a local or three of the last connection to Glasgow we may five years refer you to the local authority have close family living in where we believe you have a Glasgow connection. If you have a local work or attend further connection to more than one education in the area local authority, we will discuss with you which local authority require specialist health area you want to live in and treatment in the area. make a referral on your behalf.
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What you can do to help 10
To help us make the right decision, and give you the information and advice you need, you should:
give us as much information cancel appointments that as you can about your you cannot make – don’t circumstances – the more worry, we can arrange you tell us the better another appointment tell us your circumstances let us know if your as they are – you don’t need circumstances change. For to make your situation sound example, do you want to any better or worse than it is add someone to your application or take someone come along to appointments off it? Do you have medical – remember that you can reasons that you want us to bring someone with you if consider now? you don’t want to come alone
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
11 The help we can offer you
We are here to offer you advice The Council also has a legal duty about your housing options and, to protect your property if you if needed, help you to find are awaiting a homelessness somewhere else to live. assessment or have been assessed as homeless or If you need support to manage threatened with homelessness. your home, we have a Housing This duty includes the storage of Support Service that we can belongings that you are contact on your behalf. We can temporarily unable to look after. also put you in touch with other For example, this may be services that can offer you help because there is insufficient and support. space within your temporary accommodation to store your furniture. If this is an issue please speak to your Caseworker.
What happens next?
We aim to make a decision within We will always keep a copy of 28 days of your interview. We will the letter at our office for you to always tell you our decision in collect if you do not have an writing. If we are not able make address that we can send it to. a decision within 28 days we will write to let you know why. H 164995_Layout 1 21/08/2013 15:59 Page 13
If we decide that you: Although we will take account 12 of the areas you want to live are homeless in, we cannot guarantee that are not homeless it will be possible to offer you intentionally and housing in the areas that you want. This depends on whether have a local connection there is suitable housing available in these areas. You we will make arrangements for will get more information about you to be offered permanent this from your Caseworker. accommodation from a housing association in Glasgow. If we decide that you are not homeless, your Caseworker will discuss your housing options with you and give you advice.
Your right to a review if you do not agree with our decision
The Council will notify you of the receive your decision letter or outcome of your Homelessness the offer of either temporary or Assessment in writing. If you are permanent accommodation. unhappy about the council's decision, you can ask the Council Details of how to make an to review its decision. You must appeal will be contained in your do this within 21 days after you decision letter.
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
13 What if I am not happy with the service I get?
You can make a complaint if you You can get a copy of our are not happy with our service. complaints procedures at We take complaints very any council office including our seriously and will deal with them Community Casework Teams in confidence. and at the Hamish Allan Centre.
Where else can I get advice?
GAIN Network for Independent Advice If you require independent legal including debt, benefits and advice regarding any aspect of housing issues. the services we provide you should contact GAIN (Glasgow They can be contacted on Advice and Information Network). 0808 801 1011 on Monday – They will give free and impartial Friday 10am till 8pm and advice on a wide range of issues Saturday 10am till 2pm.
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Contact details 14 If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness please call into your local office. The 3 Community Casework Teams addresses, telephone numbers and areas they cover can be found below. Outwith normal office hours please contact the Hamish Allan Centre on Freephone 0800 838 502.
Hamish Allan Centre
180 Centre Street Glasgow G5 8EE Freephone 0800 838 502 or phone 0141 287 1800
Cathedral, Craigend, Cranhill, North East Community Crosshill, Dalmarnock, Casework Service Dennistoun, Easterhouse, 33 Burnmouth Road Fullarton, Garrowhill, Glasgow G33 4RZ Garthamlock, Gartloch, Phone 0141 276 6153 Germiston, Greenfield, Haghill, 0141 276 6160 Hogganfield, Millerston, Mount Covers the following areas: Vernon, Parkhead, Petershill, Provanmill, Queenslie, Riddrie, Auchinlea, Baillieston, Balmore, Robroyston, Royston, Balornock, Barlanark, Roystonhill, Ruchazie, Barmulloch, Bishop's Wood, Sandyhills, Shettleston, Sighthill, Blackhill, Braidfauld, Bridgeton, Springboig, Springburn, Stobhill, Broomhouse, Calton, Camlachie, Swinton, Tollcross, Townhead Cardowan, Carmyle, Carntyne, and Wellhouse.
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Glasgow City Council’s Homelessness Service
15 North West Community South Community Casework Service Casework Service 30 Mansion Street Twomax Building Possil 187 Old Rutherglen Road Glasgow Glasgow G22 5SZ G5 0RE Phone 0141 276 6169 Phone 0141 276 8201 0141 287 3158 0141 276 6180
Covers the following areas: Covers the following areas: Anderston, Anniesland, Arden, Battlefield, Bellahouston, Blairdardie, Blythswood, Carmunnock, Carnwadric, Broomhill, Broomielaw, Cadder, Castlemilk, Cathcart, Corkerhill, Charing Cross, City Centre, Craigton, Croftfoot, Crookston, Colston, Cowcaddens, Crossmyloof, Darnley, Dawsholm, Dowanhill, Deaconsbank, Drumoyne, Drumchapel, Finnieston, Firhill, Dumbreck, Gorbals, Govan, Garnethill, Garscadden, Govanhill, Hillington, Hillpark, Gilshochill, Hamiltonhill, Hillhead, Hutchestontown, Ibrox, King's Hyndland, Jordanhill, Kelvindale, Park, Kinning Park, Langside, Kelvingrove, Kelvinside, Laurieston, Linthouse, Keppoch, Maryhill, Maryhill Park, Mansewood, Mosspark, Mount Milton, North Kelvinside, North Florida, Muirend, Newlands, Knightswood, Parkhouse, Nitshill, Oatlands, Penilee, Pollok, Partick, Partickhill, Port Dundas, Pollok Park, Pollokshaws, Possil, Possilpark, Ruchill, Pollokshields, Priesthill, Queen's Scotstoun, Scotstounhill, St Park, Shawbridge, Shawlands, Enoch, Summerston, Temple, Shieldhall, Simshill, South Whiteinch, Woodlands, Cardonald, Southpark Village, Woodside, Yoker and Yorkhill. Strathbungo, Toryglen and Tradeston. 164995_Layout 1 21/08/2013 15:59 Page 17
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Notes