Support if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless

What we can do

If you are homeless today and not living in Westmorland and Furness you should contact your local council for housing help.

In Westmorland and Furness, if you are eligible for our help and homeless or threatened with homelessness within 56 days, we will:

make an initial assessment and arrange an interview to get more information
carry out a needs assessment and develop a Personalised Housing Plan with you
provide a written decision on your application as to which duty is owed to you by the Council
work with you to prevent or relieve your homelessness

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act, you must cooperate with any reasonable steps and efforts we have agreed with you to prevent you from becoming homeless or find you an alternative home.

Prevention duty

If you are threatened with homelessness within 56 days the Council will have a duty to:

try and prevent homelessness
to try and enable you to stay in your home or to help you find alternative accommodation

We can offer advice on your legal rights. We may negotiate with your current landlord or the person you live with to prevent you becoming homeless.

We can help you to find alternative housing, or provide a range of other housing options.

The prevention duty will end if you:

are able to remain in the accommodation you are in
accept alternative accommodation which is suitable and likely to last for at least 6 months
reject alternative accommodation which was suitable and was likely to last for at least 6 months
refuse to engage with the help which is being offered
lose contact with the Council
cease to be eligible for assistance
become homeless
withdraw your application

Relief Duty

If homelessness cannot be prevented the Council will have a duty to relieve your homelessness. This duty lasts for 56 days. During this period the Council will help to secure you alternative accommodation. Only people who the Council have reason to believe have a priority need will be offered temporary accommodation.

The help the Council will provide is likely to include:

giving you your local housing options
giving advice and helping you with your difficulties in finding somewhere else to live
assisting you to find accommodation through Cumbria Choice Based Lettings and in the private rented sector
considering you for financial assistance to help you to secure private rented accommodation
referring you for supported housing
develop a Personalised Housing Plan with you

This relief duty will come to an end if you:

accept alternative accommodation which is suitable and likely to last for at least 6 months
reject alternative accommodation which was suitable and was likely to last for at least 6 months
refuse to engage with the help which is being offered
lose contact with the Council
cease to be eligible for assistance
withdraw your application
56 period comes to an end

If you are still homeless after this period the Council will make a decision on what further duties you are owed. The extent of these duties depend on whether you have a priority need or whether your homelessness was your fault.

The Council’s duties to help you may be reduced if you rejected suitable accommodation or refused to engage with us whilst we had the 56 day duty to relieve your homelessness.

Reasons for homelessness

Reasons why you might be homeless, or at risk of losing your home include:

your home isn’t safe because of domestic violence or abuse
you are sleeping rough or street homeless
you’ve been asked to leave by your landlord
you have been asked to leave by family or friends

You should read the guidance relative to you. Even if your reason isn't listed, you can make an application.

Council or housing association properties

Housing in the area is in high demand. Each day, people register for council housing assistance. Some have a higher priority, which means you may move up or down the register. You may have to wait a long time for a property.

To join the register you need to register with Cumbria Choice, who hold the register for Cumbria.

All main providers of social housing advertise through Cumbria Choice. This includes any of our vacant council housing properties in Eden and Barrow.

We have no housing stock in South Lakeland. Housing associations own and advertise social housing in South Lakeland through Cumbria Choice.

How to apply for social housing

To register for social housing and to bid for properties, you will need to register with Cumbria Choice.

See what services Cumbria Choice offer on their website

Alternatively, you can request help to complete an application form from one of our offices.

Private rented accommodation

For details of private landlords in your area, see our private landlord's directories.

Contact us

Barrow area

Email: dutytorefer1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01229 876599

Address:
Town Hall
Cornwallis Street
Barrow-in-Furness
Cumbria
LA14 2LD

Eden area

Email: dutytorefer2@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01768 212179

Address:
Voreda House
Portland Place
Penrith
CA11 7BF

South Lakeland area

Email: dutytorefer3@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
Office hours telephone: 01539 793 199

Address:
South Lakeland House
Lowther Street
Kendal
Cumbria
LA9 4DQ

Out of hours contact details

Telephone: 01229 833311