Home Options Interview
If you have housing / tenancy issues or believe you have nowhere to live or about to lose your home we may be able to offer you advice on other options to prevent your homelessness. Home Options is a high quality, multi-agency and homeless prevention scheme.
-
Emergency (during Neighborhood Office Hours)
If you are in fear of your safety and need to leave your home immediately or have no place to stay tonight and are vulnerable, arrange a Home Options Emergency Accommodation appointment on 0121 303 1111.Documents required - You will be required to bring proofs to support your homeless application (see Details of Proofs required). In addition you should bring proof of income e.g. wage slips etc.
Emergency (Out of Neighbourhood Office hours)
Contact the Emergency Duty Team on 0121 303 2296 after 4:30pm, if you are walking the streets and have nowhere to go, visit your local police station.
Non – Emergency
Telephone the Contact Centre to make an appointment at your local Neighbourhood Office on 0121 303 1111.
Documents required - You will be required to bring proofs to support their homeless application (see Details of proofs required). In addition they should bring proof of income e.g. wage slips etc. -
Proofs required in Support of Homeless Application
You will need to bring:- One category 1 document
- One category 2 document
- One category 4 document
- AND one document from the other categories if applicable.
Category – 1 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Identification - Passport (current and valid);
- National Insurance Card;
- Medical Card;
- Recent Utility Bills;
- Benefit Book;
- Birth Certificate;
- Marriage Certificate;
- Driving Licence;
- EC/EEA Identity Card;
- Home Office Papers;
- Life Insurance/Assurance Policy;
- Bank Statement;
- Divorce Papers;
- Letter from Official Authority.
Category - 2 Acceptable Proofs Proof of National Insurance Number Please provide originals) - Benefits Books;
- Any official document displaying National Insurance Number.
Category - 3 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Immigration Status Person granted Refugee Status or Leave to Remain - Home office Letter/Passport granting Indefinite Leave to remain;
- Home Office Letter granting Discretionary Leave;
- Home Office Letter granting Humanitarian Protection;
- Home Office Letter granting Exceptional Leave to Remain.
NASS Support terminated
- NASS 35.
Person receiving NASS support as an Asylum Seeker:
- ARC Card;
- Home Office IS 96;
- SAL1 and SAL2.
Category - 4 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Homeless Address Any documents listed for "Proof of Identification" which also show homeless address
Or
If staying with relatives/friends letter from relative/friend confirming dates you have lived there.
Category - 5 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Dependants (Please Provide Originals)
- Child Benefit Book;
- Birth Certificate;
- DWP Child Tax Credit Letter.
Category - 6 Acceptable Proofs Non Dependant Residency/Relationship - Letter from non dependant (Aged 16 or Over who is Not in Full Time Education/Whom Child Benefit is Not Received).
Category - 7 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Sale/Repossession - Signed sale contract and breakdown of equity;
- Repossession Court Documents.
Category - 8 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Tenancy/Licence Agreement - Copy of tenancy contract/agreement between tenant and landlord;
- Letter from landlord/landlord's agent;
- Rent Book.
Category - 9 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Notice to Vacate - Written notice from landlord;
- Notice to Quit;
- Warrant of Possession.
Category - 10 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Joint Residency/Child Access Arrangements - Letter from person with main parent responsibility;
- Court Order;
- Child Protection letter (Social Services and Children, Young People & families).
Category - 11 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Divorce/Legal Separation - Letter form solicitor or legal representatives;
- Decree NISI;
- Decree Absolute;
- Legal Separation papers.
Category - 12 Acceptable Proofs Proof of Pregnancy - Mat B1 from GP or Hospital (or equivalent).
-
The Home Options Service provides quality housing advice and options by working in partnership in order to resolve housing issues and prevent homelessness.
St. Basils
St Basils provide a specialised service for 16-25 year olds. They work with young people to build their confidence and help them learn the skills to find and keep a home. St Basils helps young people to find their own tenancy, and provides ongoing support in setting up and maintaining these tenancies to provide long-term solutions to homelessness.
They also offer advice and assistance on a range of issues, such as helping young people become independent through employment and education.
Birmingham Housing Options
Birmingham Housing Options is a website run by Birmingham City Council to help people with housing problems. It provides guidance to advisors and the public on the housing options available to people in a wide range of situations, including those who are faced with homelessness. It includes fully searchable details of over 380 hostels, advice and support services.
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid
Birmingham & Solihull Women's Aid help households experiencing domestic abuse or violence. They can help people to:- Move out immediately;
- Find alternative accommodation;
- Ensure people are getting the correct legal advice and assistance;
- Plan a safe and sustainable move to alternative accommodation, when they feel ready to do so.
Private Tenancy Unit
The Home Options Service also offers help to private tenants, for example if you are having problems with your landlord, or if you need advice about tenancy rights and issues.
The Private Tenancy Unit can make sure that landlords don't break the law when evicting tenants. If you feel that your landlord isn't doing their job properly, our private tenancy officers can speak to the landlord and advise them of their responsibilities to their tenants.
Local Housing Team
If you are a tenant of Birmingham City Council then your local Housing Officer will be able to help you with any problems you have to do with your home. Your Local Housing Team will be able to assist on any issues relating to the tenancy, from antisocial behaviour to a change in personal circumstances.
The Homeless Service
Where Homelessness cannot be prevented, the Homeless Service will take a homeless application. The team will assess the application and make a decision on homeless status. The team are able to provide temporary accommodation, where appropriate, and will be in charge of monitoring the case until Birmingham City Council’s duties are discharged.
-
-
The majority of customers will have a home options interview prior to any homeless reports being completed.
During the appointment the Neighbourhood Office Advisor will discuss circumstances with you and assist you to identify the best options available to you. Potential options include:
- An income maximisation interview with Neighbourhood Office advisor to ensure that all welfare benefits are claimed, check housing benefit and / or council tax benefit is correctly awarded, assess and assist with DHP applications etc
- Referral to Birmingham’s Anti Social Behaviour Team
- Referral to local Housing team (for Council Tenants)
- Referral to the Birmingham City Council’s Debt team (for complex debt enquiries)
- Referral to Domestic Violence projects
- Referral to Birmingham’s Homeless Service
- Referral to Birmingham’s Private Tenancy Unit (to confirm the validity of notices to vacate and also liaise between tenants and landlords
- Referral to St.Basil’s - this option is only available to applicants between the age of 16 and 25
- Dealing with financial issues such as rent arrears and liaising with the Benefit service
-
The Housing Department has a duty to offer accommodation where there is reason to believe that the applicant may be homeless and have nowhere to stay, are eligible for assistance and may have a priority need.
The priority categories are:- Households with dependant children;
- Expectant mother;
- Applicants aged 16 / 17 years old;
- Applicants who were formerly in care aged 18—20 years old;
- Currently homeless because of an emergency (fire, flood and so on);
- Vulnerable due to old age;
- Vulnerable due to mental illness or learning disability;
- Vulnerable due to having been in custody / on remand;
- Vulnerable due to violence / threats of violence—non-domestic violence;
- Vulnerable due to domestic violence;
- Vulnerable due to physical disability;
- Vulnerable as ex-HM Forces personnel;
- Other special reason.
If the applicant fall into one of the ‘vulnerable’ groups, we will need to assess as to what extent your circumstances make them vulnerable—they will not automatically be accepted as priority.
Homeless services are a ‘safety net’ for those in genuine emergency. They are not an alternative to the application and transfer process which meet general housing need. You are unlikely to be accepted as homeless if, for example, you have been burgled, or are in dispute with your neighbours. If you are experiencing difficulties with your property we will try to help you, but if you give up your home without good reason you may be regarded as having made yourself intentionally homeless.
-
Depending on your circumstances, the decision on your homeless application will be one of the following:
- Not eligible for assistance;
- Eligible for assistance, not homeless;
- Eligible for assistance homeless, not priority need, as defined by Part VI of the Housing Act 1996;
- Eligible for assistance homeless, in priority need, as defined by PartVII of the Housing Act 1996, not intentionally homeless, and have a local connection with Birmingham;
- Eligible for assistance homeless, in priority need, as defined by PartVII of the Housing Act 1996, but intentionally homeless;
- Eligible for assistance homeless, in priority need, as defined by PartVII of the Housing Act 1996, not intentionally homeless, but have a local connection with another local authority other than Birmingham.
On completion of investigations into your homelessness, you will be provided with the decision in writing.
