Homelessness and Housing Advice

Eden Housing Association provides the following services on behalf of Eden District Council:

• Housing advice and assistance

• Homeless services and the prevention of homelessness

• Administration of the Council's housing waiting list, including allocations

Advice and Assistance

The Housing Options team at Eden Housing Association provide advice and information about homelessness and the prevention homelessness free of charge. Every attempt is made to prevent homelessness where possible. Advice and assistance can be given in respect of the following:

• Alternative housing options

• Types of tenancies and security of tenure

• Housing allocations

• Homelessness

• Relationship breakdown

• Domestic violence

• Referral and signposting to other agencies

• Harassment and unlawful eviction

• Possession proceedings and evictions

• Mortgage and rent arrears

Homelessness

If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, Eden Housing will:

• Interview you and carry out an initial assessment on the day of your application or the next working day if outside office hours

• Provide a written decision on your application

Who is entitled to accommodation under the homelessness legislation?

Eden Housing will make enquires to decide on the type of help it can provide. The questions that will be asked are listed below.

1. Are you eligible to be considered for assistance?
If you are subject to immigration control you may not be eligible for assistance. Most other people will be eligible.

2. Are you homeless or threatened with homelessness within 28 days?
You are homeless if you have no accommodation available in the United Kingdom or elsewhere. This means:

• you have no accommodation you are legally entitled to occupy; or
• you have accommodation but it is not reasonable for you to continue to occupy it

3. Are you in priority need?
You are in priority need if:

• you are pregnant, or a person with whom a pregnant woman resides or might reasonably be expected to reside.
• you have dependant children, or a person with whom dependant children might reasonably be expected to reside.
• you are vulnerable as a result of old age, mental illness or handicap, physical disability or other special reason.
• you are homeless as a result of a disaster, such as flood or fire.
• you are 16 and 17 year old and not the responsibility of Social Services.
• you are a Care-leaver aged 18, 19 or 20 years old who were looked after, accommodated or fostered when aged 16 or 17 years, and who are not 'relevant students'.
• you are aged 21 years or over, who is vulnerable as a result of being looked after, accommodated or fostered by the Local Authority, and who are not 'relevant students'.
• You are vulnerable as a result of fleeing violence (or threats of violence)
• People who are vulnerable as a result of spending time in the Armed Forces or having been in prison or remanded in custody.

Priority need is automatic for the first six groups. For the others, priority need will be determined on each individual case employing the test of 'vulnerability' according to the definition established by case law and the code of guidance.

4. Are you intentionally homeless?
You are intentionally homeless if:

• you have deliberately done, or failed to do, something and as a result are no longer entitled to occupy accommodation.
• you have not taken advice and information about accommodation that is available in the district.

5. Do you have a local connection with Eden?
If you do not have a local connection with Eden the duty to provide accommodation might rest with another Local Authority.

When Eden Housing Association has the answers to questions 1 - 5 it can decide if it has a duty to provide you with temporary accommodation. These are the decisions and duties.

• Decisions: You are not eligible for assistance.
  Duties: Advice and assistance
• Decisions: You are eligible for assistance and you are not homeless.
  Duties: Advice and assistance
• Decisions: You are eligible for assistance and you are homeless, but not in priority need.
  Duties: Advice and assistance
• Decisions: You are eligible for assistance, you are homeless, in priority need and homeless intentionally.
  Duties: Accommodation for a reasonable period to enable you to find your own accommodation plus advice and assistance.
• Decisions: You are eligible for assistance, you are homeless, in priority need, not homeless intentionally.
  Duties: Advice and assistance to enable you to find other accommodation. If none available, temporary accommodation provided until more permanent accommodation can be found.
• Decisions: You are eligible for assistance, you are homeless, in priority need, not homeless intentionally but no local connection
  Duties: Accommodation until referral accepted by Council where you have a local connection

Review of the decision

If you disagree with the decision made by Eden Housing on the Council's behalf, you can request a review (link). The decision letter will tell you how to go about this.

Temporary Accommodation

Due to the high demand for accommodation, most households accepted as homeless are likely to be provided with temporary accommodation until a permanent home is available.

Permanent Accommodation

If you are accepted as homeless, you will be offered permanent accommodation with a housing association as soon as possible, depending upon availability. Please be aware that there is a high demand for accommodation in the district.

If you are not threatened with homelessness but wish to apply for a housing association tenancy, you can apply to join the Council's housing register by filling in an application form available from Eden Housing Association. A number of housing associations also operate their own waiting lists and you are advised to contact them direct to enquire about applying for housing.

• Anchor Housing Association - (0191) 2706000

• Abbeyfield Housing Association - (01325) 864498

• Eden Housing Association - (01768) 861400

• Hanover Housing Association - (01274) 599686

• Home Housing Association - (01539) 735382

• Housing 21 - (01274) 744190

• Impact Housing Association - (01228) 633600

• Lowther and District Housing Association - (01931) 712577

• Methodist Homes for the Aged (MHA) - 01332 296200

• Mitre Housing Association - (01768) 861400

• Places for People - (08456) 044446

• Two Castles Housing Association - (01228) 541161

Important note

We provide general information for anyone who may be threatened with homelessness. If you would like more details, please contact:

Eden Housing Association,
Blain House,
Bridge Lane,
Penrith,
Cumbria
CA11 8QU

Telephone: (01768) 861400
Emergency out of hours service on 0800 3581401

Independent Advice

If you would like independent advice you may wish to contact:

Shelter Cumbria

Cumbria Housing Aid Centre
Address: 10 Kent Street, Kendal LA9 4AT
Telephone 0844 515 1945
Email: cumbria@shelter.org.uk
Website: england.shelter.org.uk

Read online advice from Shelter on homelessness in England

Citizens Advice Bureau

• Penrith
  Address: 2 Sandgate Penrith Cumbria CA11 7TP
  Telephone: (01768) 895736 or 891503
  Email: manager@edencab.cabnet.org.uk
  Fax: (01768) 895736 or 899070
  Opening Hours: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 10am - 4pm
• Alston
  Address: Town Hall Alston Cumbria CA9 3RF
  Telephone, Email and Fax: Same as Penrith details
  Opening Hours: Monday 12noon - 4pm
• Appleby
  Address: The Library Appleby Cumbria CA16 7QP
  Telephone, Email and Fax: Same as Penrith details
  Opening Hours: Wednesday 1pm - 4pm

Housing Legal Aid

Housing legal aid is available from:

Scott Duff & Co
40 King Street
Penrith
CA11 7AY

Telephone: 01768 865551

Community Legal Services Direct

See Homeless Advice on the Community Legal Services Direct website