Homelessness: Financial difficulty

Cost of living

The Money Matters section on our website has a lot of advice and support available for your circumstances.

Please download the ‘Your Money, Your Choice’ booklet, which provides information about organisations offering help and advice as well as an expenditure sheet at the back to help you manage your money.

If you are needing support in obtaining training or employment, you can speak to the Employment Support Team for assistance.

Find out more and how to get in touch with the employment solutions team

If you think you are worried about becoming homeless, or are already homeless, contact the homeless team.

If you are struggling financially to afford to pay for everything, you can speak to Housing Options about your options to join the housing register. If you work and are struggling financially, you could be awarded a priority, as long as you are eligible to join the register.

Find out how to get in touch with Housing options

If you are currently renting a Council property and are struggling to pay your rent, speak to the Income Team regarding your situation. They may be able to offer you a repayment plan if you are in arrears or provide you with advice on support available to you. You can contact the Income Team by calling 01709 336009.

If you are a private or housing association tenant and you are struggling to pay your rent, it’s important that you remain open and honest with your landlord. They may be able to help you as long as you speak to them.

You may be entitled to claim either Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit, you can use the governments benefit calculator to see if you can claim.

View the benefits calculator on gov.uk

If you claim Housing Benefit or the housing element as part of Universal Credit, then you can apply for Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) if you are struggling to pay rent.

Find out more and how to apply for discretionary housing payments

Contact the Homeless team

If you need any further advice or assistance please get in touch. Phone: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Out of Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm or during the weekend and bank holidays

Telephone: 01709 336009