If you’ve recently become homeless, or there is a risk of that happening, it’s important to get the right advice as soon as possible.

The first thing you will need to do is to get in touch with your local council as soon as possible 

The Council ask that you call or email them before visiting them in person to stop you from having a long wait to be seen: 

• Call: 0161 234 4692 between 09:00 – 16:30 Monday – Friday or 0161 234 5001 out of hours. 
• Email: hssdutyofficer@manchester.gov.uk between 09:00 – 16:30 Monday – Friday or mcsreply@manchester.gov.uk out of hours. 
• Visit: Customer Service Centre, Town Hall Extension, Mount Street, M2 5DB. 

For more information, please visit Manchester City Council website. 

What to expect 

Your council must help if you’re legally homeless, but how much depends on your eligibility, your level of need and how you became homeless. 

Legally homeless 

You may be legally homeless if: 

• You’ve no legal right to live in accommodation anywhere in the world 
• You can’t get into your home, for example your landlord has locked you out 
• It’s not reasonable to stay in your home, for example you’re at risk of violence or abuse 
• You’re forced to live apart from your family or people you normally live with because there’s no suitable accommodation for you 
• You’re living in very poor conditions such as overcrowding 

If you’re legally homeless, your council must provide you with help – this could range from giving advice to arranging accommodation for you. The amount of help they give you will depend on things like: 

• If you became homeless through no fault of your own 
• If you’re eligible for assistance 
• If you’re in priority need 

Priority need 

You’re in priority need if: 

• You or someone you live with is pregnant 
• Dependent children’ live with you (under 16s or under 19s if they’re studying full-time) 
• You’re ‘vulnerable‘, for example as a result of old age or disability 
• You’re homeless after a flood, fire or other disaster