Liverpool City Council - homelessness strategy

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Homelessness

On these pages, we tell you what we are doing about homelessness, and how we can help homeless people.

Do you need help right now?

Are you homeless or could become homeless? Would you like advice about what help is on offer? Liverpool City Council's Housing Options Service (PDF [370.2Kb] opens in new window) may be able to help you. The purpose of the service is:

"To prevent homelessness whenever possible and where homelessness does occur, move people into settled homes as soon as possible".

You can contact the Housing Options Service by calling into any One Stop Shop or by phoning Careline on 0151 233 3800. Free phone (for service users) 0800 731 6844.

People who are experiencing housing problems or who are threatened with homelessness should seek advice and assistance at the earliest possible stage and contact the Housing Options Service.  It is also important to contact the service as early as possible during the day.  Doing this gives the Prevention Team the maximum amount of time to find a solution and may prevent you becoming homeless.

All out of office hours referrals will be dealt with by Careline.  Because of the need for follow up and office closing times, 4.30 pm will usually be the latest time a member of the Housing Options Service will personally start an interview at a One Stop Shop (View our Housing Options Service leaflet  (PDF [370.2Kb] opens in new window)for details of the city council's One Stop Shops and the latest interview times as some are 4.00 pm). 

If a person cannot be seen in office hours or wait until the next day they should ring Careline (0151 233 3800 / Free phone 0800 731 6844).  Careline will establish if the Council has a duty to provide temporary accommodation immediately, pending an interview with the Housing Options Service the next working day.  If this is the case they will arrange the necessary accommodation.  Whether or not temporary accommodation is provided Careline will take a referral that will be sent to the Housing Options Service for action the next working day.

Search our FAQs for further assistance on how the council can help you or read the briefing (MS Word [1.4Mb] opens in new window) that was sent to all stakeholders prior to the launch of the service.

The Housing Options Service was launched formally on 2nd March 2009. See the presentations from this event here.

Homelessness Prevention

The Housing Options Service wants to stop homelessness by getting involved as early as possible to help people remain in their homes but when homelessness does occur to facilitate rehousing as quickly as possible.It does this by:  

  • Having nearly twice as many staff dedicated to preventing homelessness than assessing it

  • Having a Prevention Officer contact everyone who is referred to the Housing Options Service and go  through a range of prevention options, for example: 

    •  Using a specialist mediation service (PDF [202Kb] opens in new window) to resolve family disputes

    •  Direct action to prevent / reverse illegal evictions

    •  Supporting people in court to prevent possession proceedings

    •  Visiting people at home where necessary

    •  Using the Governments 'Mortgage Rescue Scheme' (PDF [202.4Kb] opens in new window)

    •  Working with ECHG's Floating Support (homeless prevention) team

    •  A 'Sanctuary Scheme (PDF [256.2Kb] opens in new window)' for victims of domestic violence

  • Completing Statutory homelessness assessments as quickly as possible

  • Having a dedicated re-housing team

  • Ensuring people are bidding on Property Pool and accepting 'reasonable offers' and supporting them to move

Supporting People

The 'Supporting People' Programme aims to help vulnerable people to live independently. This programme is very helpful to those who many possibly end up - or indeed have been - homeless. See our Supporting People webpage.

Further information:

Useful FAQs