Advice

From EveryonesHome.org.uk

If you've got any advice to share specific to your area - add it to the Directory to assist the Report and improve this Advice section. Be Bold. For advice, keep reading, and also you can phone Shelter on 0800 800 4444 for advice on housing issues and homelessness.

As is said so often: prevention is better than cure, get in touch with your London Local Council Housing Services department (or [1]<--UK one and NEVER take "no" or "I don't know" for an answer.

If the Council keeps on refusing to help you, GET SOMETHING IN WRITING, explaining exactly why and what they advise you to do... if their advice doesn't help than go and ask why and what do to again...

Search http://www.homelesslondon.org/details.asp?id=LP115 for local shelters and other services near to you. Direct Access shelters are often NOT "Direct to access" (which is part of why we're doing this EveryonesHome thing) therefore, be ready to waste a lot of time and be disappointed. However - DO NOT GIVE UP! use the accommodation search feature, but be aware although London has a lot of shelters, they are very much over subscribed, under funded, and over worked. Also most work on the basis of assuring your entitlement and payment of housing benefit, usually from £80 to £110 a week.

Councils are often the only avenue to emergency accommodation when homeless, if you are a British citizen in your local area, there should be no problem pushing through every option from the various advice services offered in your borough. When living outside your local area, or being a non British citizen, or being without benefit entitlement, you may seriously struggle to find accommodation in London within an affordable price bracket.

http://www.homeless.org.uk/policyandinfo/issues/helplineswebsites There's also lots of stuff here... more for interested parties than homeless peeps, but could help...

excellent resources - as is

http://www.hbaccepted.co.uk - a list of letting agents who do deal with housing benefit claimants. And
http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/forumdisplay.html?f=23 This Money Saving Expert Forum for complex Questions and Answers on Benefits, Tax Credits & Job Seeking.
Get more advice from your area in Directory:London or from http://homelessuk.org/details.asp?id=LP10 for the wider UK.

1. Without the councils recognition of your homelessness circumstance, some agencies designed to meet your needs in the meantime could regard you with less priority should you have the option to take this step yet not have done so.

Therefore, even if THEY tell you you can't apply for help, KEEP APPLYING. If you live on the confluence of two, three or more boroughs or jurisdictions, try all of them. You have to prove a local three to six months connection to the area. Any monkey can do that. We don't encourage you to lie at all, but creativity, is always nice! Anyone can join the common housing register at a local council, it's different to the council housing register, but still can be worthwhile doing.

If you are newly homeless than attempting to get through to shelter 0800 800 4444 for advice can be helpful in finding a shelter in the both short and long term. If you get through try your best impress the timespan of your intentions, and the options you have for travel to places further afield in order to get help, don't get off the line until your happy with understanding your route ahead and the activity you must take to help yourself... you waited long enough to get through after all probably.

Homelessness Shelters are numerous in London, yet mostly targeted to a "profile" and needing a refferal from a council agency or other organisation to be allowed for consideration for entry. The experience of many noticing this trend for complexity and persecution of homeless persons led to the establishment of the concept of everyoneshome.org.uk, as a rough and ready honest attempt to provide and document a fairer instantly accessible, cost effective and convenient solution to everyday homelessness experienced by many without severe mental health, addiction, or other issues that might require more supported accommodation.

For more advice sources please check the Directory in your London area.

[edit] Squatting Advice

Finally don't be disheartened at empty properties. Squatting is not illegal, just, sometimes a bit temporary and hairy - and though you should never break and enter - squatting is a right and in the right circumstances it is a viable alternative to concrete living. Check these links for London Squatting advice, and pointers, along with a community of knowledgeable current and ex-squatters: