If housing is a problem for you it is important that you seek advice and support as in many cases homelessness is preventable if action is taken early enough.. Durham County Council Housing Solutions Service has developed a range of services to help people find and keep a home. We will provide free, impartial and confidential advice to try and prevent the occurrence of homelessness and to do this it is important you seek advice as early as possible, before a problem becomes a crisis. We will assess your individual needs and where possible signpost you to relevant agencies that may also be able to help.
There are many reasons why you may face homelessness, for example:
- Financial Difficulties (Mortgage Arrears, Possession Proceedings, unable to afford present home)
- Asked to leave (By Landlord, friends or relatives)
- Leaving Hospital
- Addiction
- Release from prison
- Leaving the Armed Forces
- Living with Violence or Abuse
What should you do if you are threatened with homelessness?
If you are homeless, or likely to become homeless within the next 28 days, we may be able to offer you advice and assistance depending on your personal circumstances.
To arrange an appointment with one of the advisors, you can either visit one of the offices in the contacts list at the bottom of the page, or you can contact the office by telephone, or email housingsolutions@durham.gov.uk. Please choose the office which is nearest to your current address.
Our offices open between 8.30am and 5.00 pm Monday to Thursday, and 8.30am and 4.30pm on Fridays.
Accessing the Service
Accessing the Service.pdf (2 pages, 85kb)
Housing Solutions Service Standards
Housing Solutions Service Standards.pdf (2 pages, 17kb)
Advice and assistance
Trained Housing Solutions advisors are located in various offices around the county offering advice and assistance to help you find a solution to your problems. We can offer advice on the following:
- Legal Advice and Legislation
- Financial Support
- Welfare Benefits
- Support with Addiction
- Relationship Breakdown
- Private Tenant served with a Notice To Quit
- Social housing Tenants in rent arrears
- Tenants linked with employment
- Durham Key Options - Applying and Registering an Application Form
- Housing Associations
- Supported Living
- Affordable Housing
- Private Rented Accommodation
- Floating Support
Housing Solutions Prevention Toolkit
Housing Solutions have designed a set of initiatives known as the prevention toolkit to help enable clients to remain in their current accommodation, or, assist into alternative accommodation. If intervention is used accommodation must be sustainable for a period of up to six months. Listed below are a few of the initiatives available from Housing Solutions, for further information please contact your nearest office:
- Specialist Referral Protocol - Effective referral process for debt, welfare benfit and housing advice as individuals fall behind with rent or mortgaeg payments.
- County Court Duty Scheme Referral Protocol - Free, at court advice for clients who havent already sought specialist legal advice on their impending rent or mortgage possession action.
- Enhanced Housing Support Protocol - Vulnerable adults multi-agency protocol designed to promote and formalise joint working to meet the needs of individuals over the age of 18 who are threatened with homelessness.
- Prevention Fund - Successful tool to reduce homelessness, funds available for up to £300 per household which can be used to clear court costs, assist with delays in housing benefit, damage payments, this list is not exhaustive. Applicants have to be threatened with homelessness, previously not assisted by the scheme, on low income or benefits, and a resident of County Durham.
- Rent Deposit Guarentee Scheme - Designed to asssist clients to access accommodation in the private rented sector, funds available for up to £400 per household. Applicants have to be threatened with homelessness, previously not assisted by the scheme, on low income or benefits, and a resident of County Durham, properties will need to be inspected and meet the minimum standards required and the client will need to engage with floating support.
- Home Safe - Home Security scheme to suppport victims of violence and harrassment including domestic abuse, racially motivated violence, and threats of violence.
- Joint Protocol - Multi agency protocol meeting for 16 - 17 year olds homeless or threatened with homelessness.
- Life Wise - Accredited training programme to help young people aged 16 -25 acquire the skills they need to live independently.
- Mediation - Service aimed to help prevent youth homelessness due to family relationship breakdown.
- Mortgage Rescue Scheme/Possession and Repossession Loan Fund - new government initiative to try and assist those threatened with repossession, eligibility criteria to be met.
- Care Leavers Accommodation and Support Protocol - Multi agency protocol meeting for clients who are leaving care.
- Possibility Place - Training course designed to assist people to build self esteem and personal resiliance.
- Family Intervention Project - Designed to assist families who are threatened with evicyion due to anti-social behaviour. For more information on this service please email fip@durham.gov.uk.
- Unite - Community Mediaiton service committed to bringing about the early resolution of conflict in society.
What happens if I need to call someone when the offices are closed?
If you need emergency accommodation and our offices are closed please telephone Care Connect - 01388 722538.
Further advice
More information can be found within the County Durham Homelessness Strategy 2008 to 2013. This is the first homelessness strategy for County Durham. For further information relating to the strategy, please contact Andrew Burnip, Core Team manager in our Housing Solutions Team in Easington - contact details listed within contact points below.
HomelessnessStrategy.pdf (59 pages, 1360kb)
You can check what your Housing Options might be by using the Durham County Council Enhanced Housing Options Wizard website - click here: https://durhamhousingsolutions.ehodirect.org.uk
Shelter (the housing and homelessness charity) provides advice on housing related problems. Please visit: Shelter's get advice
For information on domestic abuse please visit: Domestic abuse