If you are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness it is absolutely vital you speak to an expert about your situation who can give you accurate advice.
Shelter's Free Helpline
0808 800 4444
Call now. Talk to an expert housing adviser if you’re in urgent need of housing advice. The helpline is open every day of the year: 8am – 8pm on weekdays or 9am – 5pm on weekends.
You should use this line if:
- you have nowhere to sleep, or might be homeless soon,
- you have somewhere to sleep, but nowhere to call home,
- you are/could be at risk of harm.
Shelter's other services
Shelter also offer an online chat service, a list of local services and contacts for them on their Get Help page.
Please use them if:
- you could not find the information you need on Shelter’s online housing advice pages,
- you need to talk to someone but are not at immediate risk.
Rough Sleeping
If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough, contact Streetlink so that they can be connected to local services, you can also call them on 0300 500 0914.
IMPORTANT: Many projects in the Winter Night Shelter (WNS) Network do not accept “walk up” referrals. Please use Shelter’s Emergency Accommodation page to find out about how someone sleeping rough can find a place to stay, in a hostel or night shelter. We do not advise that you offer a rough sleeper a bed/sofa in your home, instead, we recommend that you ask them where they usually bed down, and keep trying the options above and check in with them from time to time if you are willing and able.
If you still don’t feel like you are doing enough, did you know you can become a Host to a destitute asylum seeker? If you are in London, you can find out more here. Or you can look up a Hosting Project near you here.
Non UK Nationals
If you’ve recently come to the UK, chances are you wont have a support network to fall back on if something goes wrong with your housing situation.
The Chartered Institute of Housing supports an online portal outlining the rights and options for migrants around housing in England and Wales.
Migrant Help provides confidential and impartial advice and guidance to adult asylum seekers and their dependants throughout the UK in many different languages. Call 0808 8000 630.
Other help, support and assistance
Housing related issues can be some of the most stressful and difficult situations many of us will face. There are a range of services that can offer you support so you don’t have to go through this alone, in addition to your local church or faith group:
Citizens Advice can offer advice around your rights within the law on housing, benefits, debt and have local centers throughout the country.
The Samaritans offer a free and confidential helpline on 116 123, lines are open 24/7. They provide emotional support, not advice.
Free and impartial advice on debt and benefits is available from the Money Advice Service.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence. The helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0800 2000 247.
Men experiencing domestic violence can contact Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 between 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
If you’re under 25
Centrepoint’s helpline 0808 800 0661 is open Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm.
If you identify as LGBT and are aged between 16 and 25 you can get help and support from the Albert Kennedy Trust.
If you still need advice or support, there are more organisations here.
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