What is homeless

Homeless is a broad term which includes lots of different types of people who have no home. You are homeless if you have nowhere to stay and are living on the streets, but you can be homeless even if you have a roof over your head.

You count as homeless if you are:

• staying with friends or family
• staying in a hostel, night shelter or B&B
• squatting (because you have no legal right to stay)
• at risk of violence or abuse in your home
• living in poor conditions that affect your health
• living apart from your family because you do not have a place to live together

If you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in the next 56 days or have received a Section 21 notice from your landlord then the council can help. Read more on our housing webpages.