Emergency housing from the council - Shelter England (2024)

It’s unfair that councils don’t have to find emergency housing for everyone.

But they must find you somewhere to stay if you are homeless and have a priority need.

For example, you could be:

• 16 or 17 and cannot live at home

• pregnant or live with dependent children

  See Also

  Housing allocations policy summary

• at risk of domestic abuse where you live

• under 21 and were in care after you turned 16

• vulnerable because of a physical or mental health condition

Emergency housing could be a room in a hostel or a hotel. There's also a chance it could be in a different area.

It’s just an emergency place to stay to prevent you from having nowhere to go.

The council might then have to help with longer term housing.

But be aware, they will check your eligibility and your immigration status.