Homelessness

If you are homeless, or about to become homeless, your council may have a duty to find you somewhere to live. This duty depends on certain things, such as why you have become homeless or your immigration status, so you will need to find out whether it applies to you.

Having a medical condition, such as HIV, may give you priority for housing - meaning you may be entitled to be housed sooner than other people on the local authority (council) housing waiting list. But this will depend on a lot of things, including:

• where you live and what council housing is available
• how much priority you have
• who else in on the waiting list.

The best way to be sure you’re getting the right advice is to go somewhere where you can explain your situation. Then the adviser can tell you what help might be available to you. THT Direct is a good place to start. You can contact the service on 0845 12 21 200.

Shelter’s website provides information on council housing, including who can apply and how to apply. It also explains about priority, and gives advice on how to complete an application form – including how to describe any medical condition that may affect your housing need.