Homelessness - 16 to 17

Overview

The homelessness rules for 16 or 17 year olds with nowhere to stay are slightly different, there are different steps you need to take.


If you’re over the age of 18 speak to someone at your local authority’s housing department. They may be able to assist with housing or just provide advice, depending on your circumstances. If you are aged between 18 and 20 and  became homeless after leaving care, you have an automatic priority need for housing. Please refer to our web page ‘Homelessness.

Emergency Housing Help in King's Lynn

If you are homeless in King's Lynn and West Norfolk and cannot get immediate help, you can either contact the King's Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council's out of hours emergency contact on 01553 616601 or alternatively the King's Lynn Night Shelter on 01553 776109 or Childline on 0800 1111 (24/7/365) for more support.


In an emergency, you or someone on your behalf can call 999.

Who to approach?

Social Services 


Your local authority’s social services’ (King's Lynn & West Norfolk 0344 800 8020 will be able to assist you, by finding you a safe and temporary place to stay while they work out what help you require. You should visit the local authority and ask to speak to the duty social worker.


Checks will be carried out to see if you are able to return home, but if you don’t feel safe to go back home they cannot force you to go. Help and support will be provided under the following circumstances:



Local authority’s housing department 


You can approach the housing department within your local authority for assistance. They must:


Available accommodation

Safe and available accommodation which the local authority may find for you may be one of the following:



You should be aware of the following:


Benefits and help with benefits

You will usually receive help with your rent and living costs from social services. You are not normally entitled to benefits as well if this is the case.


You are sometimes entitled to claim benefits if you are living away from your parents because you’re at risk or estranged from them.


13 week rule

If you are 16 or 17 you are classed as being ‘in care’ when social services are providing you with accommodation because you are homeless.


After 13 weeks of being in care, social services should continue to give you advice and support under a 'pathway plan' up until your 25th birthday. This may also include providing you with accommodation during holidays if you go to university.

Help for under 16's

If you are under the age of 16, you should visit your local authority and ask to speak to children's services. They will normally try to help you find a way to stay at home if possible and if it is safe to do so. If this isn't possible, Children’s Services will find a temporary place for you to stay. This might be in foster care, for example.

Contacts

https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council for where to locate your local authority.

www.turn2us.org.uk to use the benefits checker to see what benefits you may be entitled to.

www.shelter.org.uk for further advice from a housing specialist offering Legal Aid

www.nightstop.org.uk preventing homelessness through community housing