Homelessness Information for Workers
What you need to know and how you can help
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Put them in touch with the right people who can give a professional assessment This means having information about the range of services available, an up-to-date list of the right contacts and offering to help make an appointment. This leaflet will give you these contacts. It also means understanding what other agencies do.
Help in the prevention and alleviation of homelessness
Identify households who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as early as possible.
This means recognising the whole needs of a household and actively helping at an early stage to prevent homelessness happening. It will involve being clear about what information you can share with other agencies and getting appropriate permission from the household.
Meet the specific needs of homeless people
People living in temporary accommodation or with a more chaotic lifestyle may need a more flexible appointment system. Extra effort may be needed to ensure they can access all the relevant services.
In your work, you will be in contact with people who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming homeless. This leaflet gives you important information about how you can help. You could have a crucial role in helping to prevent someone becoming homeless, or, if they’re already homeless, helping them to find a solution.
Homelessness was once considered the responsibility of the Council’s Housing department, now it is an issue for the whole. Page 2
Council, the Health Service, employment services and voluntary agencies – everyone has a part to play.
It involves not only dealing with the immediate crisis of homelessness, which an individual or family may face. It is also about trying to prevent homelessness where we can, and working with homeless people to find a lasting solution to their homelessness. It will often mean a number of organisations working together to sort out a range of problems which may be facing a household.
What do we mean by homelessness? Although we all recognise people who sleep on the streets as homeless, homelessness is much wider than that. It is more than a roof over your head. So, people living with friends or family, in institutions, hostels, Women’s Aid refuges or temporary accommodation are all considered homeless. Some young people may be at risk of homelessness within the family home if, for example, they are being abused physically, emotionally or sexually.
Some homeless people ‘sofa surf’ spending a few nights on a friend or relative’s sofa and then moving to another friend, rather than being exposed to the added dangers of sleeping rough.
Why do people become homeless and how many people are affected? There are many reasons why someone becomes homeless. Sometimes it is simply
The law i homeless in the next two months Page 3 the result of an emergency (fire or flood for example) or a crisis such as redundancy. More usually there is an immediate crisis linked to a number of underlying issues. However homelessness can happen to anyone. It affects a wide range of ages and circumstances. Some homeless people only need a house; others need extra support to help them make their tenancy work.
How can I help someone who is homeless or threatened with homelessness? When a person is homeless or threatened with homelessness they should always be directed to the Homelessness Team. They can ask to be interviewed by someone of the same sex and the interview will be carried out in a private area. They can also take along a friend, relative or advisor to take notes or give support.
How are people affected by homelessness? Homelessness can affect almost every part of your life. It is hard to get or keep a job, it can also be hard to keep appointments, stay organised or keep important documents safe. If you have children it is likely to affect their schoolwork and physical and emotional de- velopment. As a parent you are affected by the stress on your children. Homelessness can also affect people’s physical and mental health.
What should I do? The main thing is to put them in touch with someone who has specialist skills, but it may also be an agency which offers support and advocacy in approaching the Council. See the list of contacts on the back page.
Don’t try to sort it out yourself if you have not been trained. Any judgement about whether they are homeless and have a right to accommodation or other help should only be carried out by someone who is trained to do so. If you are not sure whether they might be homeless, encourage them to talk to a trained staff member within the Homelessness Service who will be able to offer useful help and advice.
Ask yourself if you can do more than simply pass on a name or phone number. For example, offering to make a phone call for someone (eg to set up an appointment) can make a real difference. Page 4
Where to go to get help
If the person you are helping lives in any part of East Dunbartonshire please contact the Homelessness Team on 0141 578 2133 (during normal office hours)
East Dunbartonshire comprises:
Bearsden, Milngavie, Kirkintilloch, Bishopbriggs, Waterside , Lenzie, Torrance, Milton of Campsie, Lennoxtown and Twechar
If you need to make contact outwith office hours please contact the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 0800 052 5574