Find out if you qualify for housing support
If you make a homelessness application, we will assess your situation to decide whether we must help you secure accommodation.
We can help if you:
- are eligible for assistance
- are homeless or likely to become homeless within 56 days
- do you have a priority need for accommodation
- are not intentionally homeless
- have a local connection to Cumberland
If you do not meet these criteria, we can still offer advice and support to help you find somewhere to live.
Eligible for assistance
Some people are not eligible for homelessness assistance because of their immigration or residency status.
You may not be eligible if you are:
- from abroad and subject to immigration control
- not habitually resident in the UK
- a British citizen who has not been habitually resident in the UK for a period of time
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, contact us for advice.
We may ask you for proof of identity, such as your:
- passport
- driving licence
- birth certificate
We may also ask for documents that confirm your immigration status.
Homeless or at risk of homelessness
We will assess whether you are homeless now or likely to become homeless within the next 56 days.
You may be considered homeless if you:
- no longer have a legal right to stay in your home
- have somewhere to live but cannot get into it
- have had to leave because of violence or the threat of violence
- do not have a place where you and your family can stay together
- live in a caravan or boat and have nowhere to legally place it
There may be other situations where you could be considered homeless, depending on your circumstances.
Priority need
Some people have a greater need for accommodation under homelessness law.
You may be considered to have a priority need if you:
- are homeless because of an emergency such as a flood or fire
- have dependent children who normally live with you
- are pregnant
- are aged 16 or 17 and are not being accommodated by children’s services
- are aged 18 to 20 and have previously been in care
You may also have a priority need if you are considered vulnerable because of your personal circumstances.
We may ask for supporting information from other professionals or services to help us assess this.
Intentionally homeless
We will consider whether you became homeless because of something you deliberately did or failed to do.
For example, you may be considered intentionally homeless if you lost your home because you did not pay your rent or mortgage when you could afford to.
If we decide you are intentionally homeless, we may not have a duty to provide housing. We will still give you advice and support to help you find somewhere else to live.
Local connection
We will assess your local connection to Cumberland.
You may have a local connection if you:
- have lived in Cumberland for 6 of the last 12 months, or 3 out of the last 5 years
- have close family in Cumberland who you have a genuine connection with and who have lived in the area for at least 5 years
- work in Cumberland
Local connection is one of the factors we may consider when deciding which council is responsible for your application.