Introduction - Homeless Applications - Practical Help - Domestic Violence Forum - The London borough of Barking and Dagenham.

Practical Help

Homeless Applications

Introduction

Local Authorities have certain duties to support people made homeless by domestic violence. These were established under part VII of the 1996 Housing Act and have been amended by the Homelessness Act 2002.

A person who has either property or occupation rights will not normally be legally defined as homeless unless they:

Cannot gain entry to their home or

It is not reasonable for them to continue to occupy accommodation because it is probable that this will lead to domestic violence or threats of violence which are likely to be carried out by an 'associated person'. This violence could be against the person who is making a homeless application or a person who normally lives with them as a member of their family or any other person who might reasonably be expected to reside with them.

In order to be accepted when making a homeless application you need to be:

"eligible for assistance" which excludes people with insecure immigration status. (please see section on immigration if you are ineligible for help)
Homeless
Not intentionally homeless (i.e. you have not deliberately done something or failed to do something which has caused you lose occupation rights to a property which was available to you and which was reasonable for you to continue to occupy).

In priority need of housing. Please seek further advice about who is in priority need of housing. These categories include parents looking after children under 18, pregnant women, people with disabilities and those who can show that they are vulnerable because of a number of factors including domestic violence and leaving care.

NB Most people making homeless applications to a local authority also need to show that they have a "local connection" to the area but if people cannot stay in the areas to which they have these connections because this would put them at probable risk of violence they can approach any local authority.

If you are making a homeless application you can get advice from a local authority housing advice worker and may also be able to get support in making your application from a refuge or other specialist domestic violence service.

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Barking and Dagenham Domestic Violence Forum