Homelessness Interview
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness we will arrange an interview for you with a trained Homeless Advice Officer at the Housing Advice Centre.
If you live too far away and cannot come to Perth we will arrange an interview with a Housing Officer at your local Area Office.
If you are homeless on the day that you contact us and have nowhere to spend the night we will interview you on that day and arrange temporary accommodation.
If you are likely to become homeless within the next 2 months we will offer you an appointment within 5 working days.
Arranging the homeless interview
Before you come in for your interview you need to know:
- It will last for about an hour and will take place in a private interview room.
- You are welcome to bring a friend, relative or support worker to the interview.
- If you can't get to one of our offices we may visit you at your home or other place of your choice.
- If you need an interpreter please let us know and we will arrange this before the interview.
- If you have hearing, speech or sight difficulties and need assistance for the interview please let us know and we will make the necessary arrangements.
- You can ask for the same sex officer to do the interview, just let us know before the day.
- If you think you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you have a legal right to make a homeless application.
- All information you provide will be treated confidentially.
What do I need to bring with me to the interview?
At the interview we will ask for evidence about your circumstances so if possible please bring as much evidence about your homelessness as you can. This will help us make a decision on your application as quickly as possible. We will need to see:
- a copy of your tenancy agreement, rent book etc;
- proof of identity e.g. your birth certificate, passport or a document confirming your National Insurance Number;
- details of your income e.g. your child benefit payment book, details of any savings, payslips etc;
- your children's birth certificates, confirmation of custody arrangements;
- your maternity certificate (MATB1) - if you are pregnant;
- if your home is to be sold - confirmation of the sale of the property;
- if your home will be repossessed - the court summons for possession.
What happens at the interview?
The purpose of the initial interview is to prevent homelessness wherever possible and to look at all of the housing options available to you. The Homeless Advice Officer will complete a homeless application with you and explain:
- our procedures for assessing and handling homeless applications;
- the likely timescales for each stage;
- the decisions the council can take in respect of your application under the homeless legislation;
- your legal rights under the homeless legislation including your rights to appeal, to temporary accommodation, storage or pets etc;
- the Councils legal obligations to you under the homeless legislation;
- the types of temporary accommodation we have.
False or misleading information
At the end of the interview we will ask you to sign a legal declaration confirming that all you said is true.
It is an offence to give false or misleading information or to withhold information that you have been asked for in relation to your homelessness. Providing false or misleading information may affect your homeless application and if you are found guilty of this offence you may be fined.
You must also inform us of any changes in your circumstances in relation to your homeless application.
What happens after the interview?
After the interview the Homeless Advice Officer will decide what support and help we can offer you.
The law says we must consider:
We try to assess all homeless applications within 28 days from the interview if we have all required information. To reach the correct decision on your application we may need to contact other services or agencies to get more information:
- Social work,
- Education and Children's Services,
- Welfare Rights,
- Housing Benefit/ Council Tax,
- Landlords,
- Mortgage lenders,
- Police,
- Solicitors,
- Healthcare professionals,
- Support Services.
We will not contact anyone without your permission and you will ask you to sign a consent form at the initial interview.
