Homelessness assessment

We provide advice and support if you are homeless or facing homelessness. Complete a homelessness enquiry to let us know about your needs. 

We will then contact you to assess your housing situation and give you advice if you are unable to find accommodation. We may accept a duty to help prevent or relieve your homelessness if you are eligible.

If you need help to fill out the form or have any questions contact us.

During your assessment, we ask you to provide some documents to show you are eligible for homelessness assistance, such as your

• birth certificate or passport
• national identity card
• residence permit card

If you have recently returned to live the UK or have been given leave to enter, we may ask for additional information from you. 

You may be asked to provide documents that show that you are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The documents you will be asked to provide are dependent on your circumstances but may include

• your tenancy agreement and associated documents
• a notice or a court order to vacate (when you have been asked to leave your home by someone you live with, such as your landlord or family)

If you are eligible, we will accept a homelessness duty to provide you with advice and assistance. We will try and help you resolve any issue to remain in your home or to secure alternative accommodation.

We may require more information to assess how we can support you best. The documents we request you to share will depend on your circumstances. They may include

• evidence of children and parental responsibility
• information of any medical conditions
• employment contract, wage slips, or benefits paperwork
• bank statements
• evidence of any debts that you have

If we accept a homelessness duty for you, we will agree a personal housing plan (PHP) with you to help you stay in your home, if possible, or to secure alternative accommodation. The PHP will provide the steps to take and when these actions need to be completed.

If we cannot find suitable short-term accommodation, we may decide to provide a long-term housing duty for you.

You need to show a local connection to the Island for long-term assistance. This means either you live, work, or have immediate family here (usually a parent, sibling or adult child) that may help to support you.

However, if you do not have a local connection, there are some instances when we may be able to accept a housing or homelessness duty for you. You can speak with the housing officer about your situation.

If you are homeless and are considered to have priority need, you may be eligible for emergency housing.https://www.iow.gov.uk/housing-and-adult-social-care/housing-services/homelessness/homelessness-assessment/

If you are placed in emergency accommodation, we will continue to provide you with support and assistance to help relieve your homelessness.

If we are unable to help you prevent or relieve your homelessness, we may accept a duty to provide you with temporary accommodation on a longer basis.

You will be informed of any duties that the council owes to yo in writing.

You can ask for decisions to be reviewed if you do not agree with any of the decisions we make on your behalf. You will be advised how you may request a review when you are given any decision.

Any review is carried out by a senior officer who was not involved with the original decision. If you do not agree with this, you can appeal to the County Court.

Office hours

Monday to Thursday 8.30 am to 5.00 pm
Friday 8.30 am to 4.30 pm 

Emergency contact number (out of hours only) 01983 821000

This is a very limited service and only deals with crisis situations that cannot wait until the next working day.