Temporary Accommodation

The Council makes use of various temporary accommodation options for homeless households in the Borough.

The 1996 Act triggers that action a temporary accommodation duty

• S.188 – the duty to provide temporary accommodation to anyone the Council has reason to believe may be homeless and may be in priority need
• S.190 – in the event of an adverse decision, the Council has a duty to provide temporary accommodation for a reasonable period of time in order to give clients the opportunity to make their own arrangements
• S.193 – following acceptance of the main housing duty, the Council is required to continue to provide temporary accommodation until suitable, alternative accommodation can be found.

In addition to households applying to the Council for accommodation under homelessness legislation, other households can require temporary accommodation which includes people who are rough sleeping.

Temporary accommodation takes the form of two types of accommodation

Shorter-term and longer-term accommodation is nightly accommodation during the relief stage of homelessness and whilst a household’s homelessness application is being assessed. This could be B&B hotel or good quality self-contained accommodation.

Longer-term accommodation - is for households where the Council has accepted an ongoing accommodation duty. This is self-contained accommodation provided under a license until a suitable offer to discharge that duty can be made through the household securing accommodation either in social housing stock or the private rented sector.

Off street support for rough sleepers

The off-street offer provides short-stay emergency accommodation in a safe place for up 2 people at any one time.

People staying in the accommodation will have their needs assessed. They will be offered personalised support to help them move into permanent accommodation.

Paying for temporary accommodation

There is an occupation charge for households not entitled to full Housing Benefit and they will be asked to pay an affordable contribution towards these. Residents will also be responsible for their own utility costs.