Homelessness

If you are homeless or think you will become homeless contact us by:

• emailing hpos@basingstoke.gov.uk
• phoning 01256 844844 at any time
• visiting the council offices during office hours Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm (excluding bank holidays)

We can help you with a range of options, including:

• Advising on resolving disputes with your landlord to stop your eviction.
  
• Help to mediate with family or friends to help keep you in your current home.
  
• Advice on renting privately.
  
• Helping you to apply for housing benefit.
  
• Providing information on low cost home ownership.
  
• Advice on finding a hostel.
  
• Arrange for debt advice, benefit information and support services.
  
• Helping you adapt your current home to make it more suitable to your needs.

Please be aware there is high demand for housing in the borough.

Homelessness Reduction Act 2017

The Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 (HRA) places a duty on us to offer more support to a wider range of households, and to intervene earlier.

The HRA adds two new duties:

• Duty to take steps to prevent homelessness: We can help households at risk of losing accommodation as soon as they are threatened with homelessness. This means people will get help on receiving a valid notice from their landlord.
  
• Duty to take steps to relieve homelessness: We will help all those who are homeless to secure suitable accommodation, regardless of whether they are intentionally homeless or fall within a priority need category. This means that all eligible households are offered help to find a new home.

If neither of the above steps are successful, and a household becomes or remains homeless, then those in priority need retain their right to be accommodated, though non priority households will not be entitled to further duties.

We may not be able to re-house you where you want to live, but we will make every endeavour to secure accommodation within the borough. If no suitable accommodation is available, we may have to look in other areas. If you refuse a suitable offer of accommodation, we do not have to make you another offer of accommodation.

If we have to provide you with bed and breakfast accommodation, you will be charged for this, but you may be able to meet some of this cost through housing benefit.

If you do not meet the criteria, we will still offer you help and advice with your housing situation. This includes advice on finding your own accommodation.

To find out more contact the Homelessness team, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke on 01256 844844 or via hpos@basingstoke.gov.uk.

Are you aware of anyone sleeping outside within the borough?

StreetLink is a website that enables you to alert us about people sleeping rough in this borough. This service enables you to act when you see someone sleeping rough and is the first step someone can take to ensure rough sleepers are connected to the local services and support available to them. Report someone sleeping rough so that we and other agencies can provide assistance.

Rough Sleeper Severe Weather Emergency Protocol (SWEP)

As of 15 March 2023, SWEP has been de-activated in Basingstoke and Deane.

Rough sleepers in Basingstoke and Deane can access emergency accommodation and support during periods of severe weather through SWEP.

When SWEP has been activated or deactivated, relevant partner agencies will be notified.

If you are sleeping rough or an individual approaches you stating that they are rough sleeping, please contact Julian House at basingstoke-outreach@julianhouse.org.uk or 01256 322791 or contact our Housing Team on 01256 844844.

If you are concerned about someone sleeping rough you can make a referral to Street Link.

Help and advice

Below is a list of organisations and services that are available to people who are homeless

Julian House

An outreach service helping to support rough sleepers to move off the streets and into accommodation.

Contact
01256 322791
basingstoke-outreach@julianhouse.org.uk

The Camrose Centre

Provides short-term relief in the form of food, shelter, clothing, washing facilities and guidance.

Open Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am to 2pm, Fridays 10am to 12.30pm and Sunday 12 noon to 3pm.

Contact
01256 320877 / 07476 342577

Email: info@thecamrosecentre.org

Visit the Camrose website

Glebe Hall, St Michael's Church, Church Square, Basingstoke, RG21 7QW

Sovereign Housing Association

Short-term temporary accommodation provided on two sites. One six bed house and 29 self-contained units. Nominations by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Contact
0300 500 0926

Email: joshuatreeproject@sovereign.org.uk

Joshua Tree, Oakley Lodge

Mary Rose Court

Mary Rose Court provides accommodation for single homeless people with support needs, including ex-offenders and people with mental health problems.

Contact
01256 472233

Visit the Mary Rose Court website

Mary Rose Court, Attwood Close, Basingstoke, RG21 8ZY

YMCA Hostel

The YMCA provides accommodation for young, single people aged 18 to 30 who are in housing need and have no or very low support needs.

Contact
01256 479696

Visit the YMCA website

Eastrop Way, Basingstoke, RG21 4QD

Housing services

Housing registers, housing advice, homelessness and social inclusion.

Contact
01256 844844 phone and offices open Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

housing@basingstoke.gov.uk

Visit our housing webpages

Housing Team, Civic Offices, London Road, Basingstoke, RG21 4AH

Citizens Advice

Citizens Advice operates nationally and provides advice on a wide range of topics, including housing.

Visit the Citizens Advice website

0808 2 78 78 29

The National Domestic Violence Helpline

If someone is fleeing domestic violence please contact: 0808 2000 247

Visit the National Domestic Violence Helpline website

Refugee action

Refugee Action can provide advice to migrants and asylum seekers:0800 141 2426

Visit the Refuge action website

Shelter

Shelter is a charity that works to alleviate the distress caused by homelessness and bad housing. They do this by giving advice, information and advocacy to people in housing need, and by campaigning for lasting political change to end the housing crisis for good.

Visit the Shelter website

Tel: 0808 278 8083

Veterans

Veterans Gateway is available for advice and support to people who have served in the armed forces and require advice, including on issues such as housing and homelessness.

The Veterans Gateway is an online service and telephone resource commissioned by the MoD and delivered by a consortium headed by The Royal British Legion. Within the Gateway a housing specialist service is in touch with veteran housing providers and has up-to-date information on any vacancies within the 4,000 plus housing units in the country specifically ring-fenced for veterans. Find more help and advice from the Veterans Gateway.