Homeless or threatened with homelessness
If you do not have a local connection to the district, and you are currently homeless, you are advised to contact your own local authority directly.
We will usually refer you to the authority where you do have a local connection, although we will consider if there are any special reasons for your approach to St Albans District Council.
If you are homeless or believe you are at risk please complete the form via the link below.
This will help us to provide you with the relevant information and guidance you need to get the correct assistance as soon as possible.
If you think there is a possibility you may be made homeless, or you are homeless currently, it is best that you get advice as soon as possible to:
- Try to prevent your homelessness
- Find out about your housing rights and options
- Find out what help we can offer you if you become homeless.
Are you a professional making a referral for someone else? Toggle accordion
If you are a professional seeking to make a referral for someone else, follow the link below to our Public bodies duty to refer page.
Do you have a local connection to St Albans District? Toggle accordion
You have a local connection to St Albans District if you:
- have been resident in the district by choice for six out of the last twelve months, or three out of the last five years; or
- are employed here (casual employment does not count); or
- have a close family member who is resident in the district and has here been by choice for the last five years (this would usually be your mother, father, a sibling or adult child).
What we will do to help Toggle accordion
You are considered threatened with homelessness if you're likely to become homeless within the next 56 days or if you've received a notice seeking possession from your landlord. If this applies to you, please don’t delay - reach out for help as soon as possible so we can work together to prevent homelessness.
Our aim is to prevent homelessness wherever possible by agreeing a plan with you to address the issues that may lead to you losing your home.
If preventing homelessness isn’t possible, we’ll support you in trying to find a new home before you actually become homeless.
Whether it’s helping you stay in your current home or find somewhere new, early advice is always best to avoid a crisis situation where you actually become homeless.
Our offer Toggle accordion
We can:
- Assess your current housing situation and work out with you what your needs are.
- Agree an action plan with you outlining the steps you and the council will take to try to prevent homelessness.
- Help you develop a housing plan to find a new home if it’s unlikely you can stay in your current home.
- Recommend and refer you to other agencies and organisations that can support the plans we agree, either directly or by providing contact information.
Contact us Toggle accordion
Please email Homelessness.Triage@stalbans.gov.uk for advice and guidance from one of our team members.
If you need urgent help outside of our normal office hours (Monday – Friday, 9:00am – 5.15pm), please call our out of hours service on 01727 866100.
Further guidance on support we can provide Toggle accordion
For more guidance on the support we can provide, alongside relevant contact details, please visit our Homelessness advice page.
StreetLink
StreetLink is a platform that connects people rough sleeping to support provided by local authorities and charities.
For more information about StreetLink, see our Rough Sleeping page
Alternatively, visit the StreetLink website.
Code of guidance for local authorities
A homeless application is a statutory function of the Council. All Councils are required to provide the opportunity to make a homeless application under law.
If you would like further information on the process of a homeless application, you can read about this on the government website here: Overview of the homelessness legislation
