Support if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness, you should get advice and help to find a solution to your housing problem as soon as possible.

What we can do

If you are homeless today and not living in the Croydon borough you cand contact your local council for housing help.

If you are eligible for our help and are threatened with homelessness, we will try to stop you losing your home.  Our primary aim is to help you stay in your own home, rent in the private sector and advise on your housing options.

You can apply if you are eligible and:

  • homeless, or 
  • threatened with homelessness

We can offer advice on your legal rights and may negotiate with your current landlord or the person you live with to prevent you becoming homeless. We can help you find alternative housing, or provide a range of other housing options. 

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act, you must cooperate with any reasonable steps and efforts we have agreed with you to prevent you from becoming homeless or find you an alternative home. If we help you find a private rented home, this may end our duty to house you.

Reasons for homelessness

Here are some reasons why you might be homeless, or at risk of losing your home.

You should read the guidance relative to you, and even if your reason isn't listed here you can make a housing advice and homelessness enquiry. 

Council or housing association properties

It is more likely that we will help you to find a private rented home, to buy a home or advise on your housing options.

Housing in the area is in high demand. approximately 650 council and housing association homes become available to let each year. There are currently more than 8,600 households waiting for social housing meaning only 1 in 10 households on the waiting list will get a social home each year.

Each day, people register for council housing assistance, some have a higher priority, which means you may move up or down the register.

There is a very limited likelihood of being offered a home. Even if you are offered a council home, you will probably have to wait a long time. The average wait is currently 8 years for a 2-bedroom property, and 9 years for a 3- bedroom property.

We will work with you to seek a housing solution to help you to stay in your home, or to find an alternative. By exploring your housing options, it may be easier and quicker for you to move home and resolve your problem.

How to access our service

Most homelessness assessments are carried out by appointment. This helps us understand your circumstances, make sure you get the right support and prepare for your appointment. 

You do not have to apply online to get help. If you are unable to complete the housing enquiry form, you can call us on 020 8726 6000 (Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm). Our contact centre can discuss your situation and where appropriate, refer your enquiry to the team for further support. 

Whether you submit your homeless enquiry online or by telephone, one of our homelessness officers will review your circumstances. Every enquiry is based on urgency, risk and individual circumstances so we can prioritise households with the greatest housing need. 

If you require immediate assistance or are experiencing a housing emergency, there are same day appointments available. 

If you need additional support

If you need extra help accessing our service, please let us know. We can make reasonable adjustments to help you access our services and appointments. 

If you need help using online services, you can use the free public computers available in our libraries, where staff and volunteers can provide basic digital support. 

If you are deaf or use British Sign Language (BSL), you can use the  Convo service, which can help you with an online interpreter. 

if English is not your first language, you can translate our website into a range of languages. Translating our pages.
 

Make a housing advice and homeless application 

See the housing advice and homelessness application step-by-step process.