Homelessness

Homelessness means not having suitable accommodation. You don't have to be living on the streets to be homeless. Even if you have a roof over your head you can still be homeless. This may be because your home is unsuitable or you don't have any rights to stay where you live.

Homelessness can happen to anyone, for a wide variety of reasons. If you think you are at risk of becoming homeless, get advice immediately.

The Housing Executive has a duty to provide advice on homelessness and its prevention to anyone in Northern Ireland who asks for it.

Am I homeless?

You may be homeless if you are:

sleeping on the streets,
staying with friends or family,
staying in a hostel or a bed and breakfast,
living in overcrowded conditions,
at risk of violence if you stay in your home,
living in poor conditions that are damaging your health,
living in a house that is in disrepair or unsuitable for you.

Get advice immediately if you are homeless, or worried about becoming homeless. You can get advice from Housing Rights Service, Citizens Advice Bureau, the Housing Executive or a local advice agency.

Homeless people's rights

If you are homeless or about to lose your home, you may have more rights than you think.

You may have:

the right to return to or stay in your home (for example, if your landlord evicted you without following the correct legal procedure),
the right to remain in the property you shared with a partner after the breakdown of your relationship.

Even if you have already left the accommodation, you may be able to return if you still have the right to live there.

Do I have access to social housing?

The Housing Executive has a duty to provide advice on homelessness and its prevention to anyone in Northern Ireland who asks for it.

The Housing Executive must carry out an enquiry into your housing situation if you make a homeless application. If you are assessed as "eligible for assistance" and "in need", the Housing Executive may have to provide you with accommodation. Otherwise, it will give you advice on how to find new accommodation.

Rules for people from abroad are complicated. An adviser can help you understand your entitlement. If you wish to apply to the Housing Executive as homeless, seek advice with a housing adviser.

Help from social services

Social services usually refers to statutory agencies who are by law responsible for the care, protection, health and well being of vulnerable people, including children and young people.

Social services is often used to describe the five health and social care trusts in Northern Ireland. Health and social care trusts have some responsiblity for the welfare of children and young people. This includes caring for some children and young people at home, in hospitals, in residential homes and children and young people who live with foster parents.

Social services may have a duty to help you if you are homeless and fall into one of the following categories:

you are under 18,
you have been in care and are under 21,
you have a disability,
you have mental health problems,
you are over 60 years old.

Social services may be able to help families with children even if the Housing Executive will not help you because you are seeking asylum or it decides you are intentionally homeless. However, social services are not required to provide accommodation where everyone can live together.

The rules about people from abroad are complicated. You will need help to make sure that you get everything you are entitled to. If you are seeking asylum in Northern Ireland, contact the Law Centre NI or Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM).

Help and support

If you are homeless or worried about becoming homeless you should get advice as soon as possible. The Housing Executive has a duty to provide advice on homelessness and its prevention to anyone in Northern Ireland who asks for it.

Always get advice if you have been asked to leave your home. An adviser from an advice agency such as Housing Rights Service can check whether you have a legal right to stay in your property or a right to appeal as homeless to the Housing Executive.

Contact your Housing Executive District Office if you are homeless or threatened with homelessness. You can also contact the Housing Executive's out of office hours in an emergency.

If you are not entitled to housing from the Housing Executive, you may be able to get help from Social Services or the Home Office instead. Contact the Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities (NICEM) before you ask for help.