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:
- whether you are homeless or threatened with homelessness;
- whether you are intentionally homeless;
- whether you have a local connection with the Perth and Kinross
area.
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.
