Homelessness Advice and Support
If you are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or in need of housing advice you should contact us.
We are the North Ayrshire Council Homelessness Assessment Prevention and Advice service, based on the 3rd Floor, Rivergate House, Irvine. Telephone No: 01294 314700. Our office opening hours are:
Monday - Thursday: 9.00 am - 4.45 pm
Wednesday: 9.00 am - 6.00 pm
Friday: 9.00 am - 4.30 pm
If you are homeless outwith the above hours, you can contact our Homeless Out of Hours Service:
Freephone 0800 196 500 for assistance. You can also approach any police station for help.
We offer specialist housing advice and information to assist anyone in North Ayrshire who is homeless or threatened with homelessness. We also offer assistance to anyone requiring information on housing options or housing issues.
We have certain legal duties towards people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness. The following information explains our duties and how we can help prevent and resolve homelessness wherever possible:
You are homeless or threatened with homelessness if:
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You have no accommodation that you can legally reside in or are likely to become homeless within two months
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Your family, who normally live with you, are forced to live separately from you as you have no accommodation you can live in together
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You have accommodation which is unavailable to you as you have, for example, been illegally evicted or are forcibly prevented from living in it; or
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You may be at risk of violence from someone living in the accommodation if you continue to reside there.
Advice and Information for Young People
North Ayrshire Council, in partnership with the Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP) has produced a leaflet - Thinking of Leaving Home? (PDF 192 kb) - which provides advice and information specifically for young people who are at risk of homelessness or who are considering leaving home. This leaflet also forms part of CHAP's Education Programme which is delivered in Secondary Schools throughout North Ayrshire.
Useful Questions and Information
I am homeless or threatened with homelessness - what should I do?
What will happen then?
What sort of questions will you ask me?
When you assess my application for homelessness, what is meant by 'intentionally homeless'?
When you assess my application for homelessness, what is meant by 'local connection'?
What should I bring with me to my interview?
Will you keep the information I give you confidential?
Can I bring a friend to the interview?
What happens next?
What help can I expect to receive?
What if I become homeless outwith office hours?
What if I am not happy with your decision about my application?
Useful Contacts
I am homeless or threatened with homelessness - what should I do?
If you are homeless, or are likely to become homeless within the next two months, you should visit the Homeless Assessment Prevention and Advice office - see details above, or if you are unable to travel, contact your nearest local Housing Office.
What will happen then?
We offer a drop-in service where you can discuss your current housing situation with a member of staff in a private interview. We also offer an appointment system where an appointment will be arranged to suit you. Initially you would undertake a housing options interview where your current circumstances would be fully discussed. If you decide that you wish to proceed with a homeless application, you will be interviewed by a Homeless Assessment Officer who will help you through this process.
What sort of questions will you ask me?
During your interview, we help you complete a homeless application form. The Homeless Assessment Officer is required to ask a number of questions in line with current legislation in order to process your application. By law we have a duty to investigate:
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Whether you are homeless or threatened with homelessness within 2 months of your interview
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Whether you are homeless intentionally or not, and
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Whether you have a local connection with North Ayrshire
We may also ask you to provide confirmation of your current situation and the information we would require would be fully discussed with you at the interview.
When you assess my application for homelessness, what is meant by 'intentionally homeless'?
If, for example you have become homeless because you did not pay your rent or mortgage and you could afford to do so, you could be considered 'intentionally homeless'. This means that you have done something deliberately which causes you to be homeless.
When you assess my application for homelessness, what is meant by 'local connection'?
You may have a local connection if:
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You have lived here for 6 out of the last 12 months or 3 out of the last 5 years
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You have permanent work in the area
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You have close relatives - mum, dad, brother or sister who have lived here for the past 5 years
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You have very special reasons why you must live in the area
What should I bring with me to my interview?
You should bring any letters or documentation which relate to your homelessness. This will help the Assessment Officer reach a prompt decision on the outcome of your application.
Will you keep the information I give you confidential?
We will keep any information you give us confidential, and will only use it to assess your application under the terms of the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 as amended by the Housing (Scotland) Act 2001. This is the legislation that governs homelessness in Scotland and also governs the declaration you would be required to sign at the end of the interview confirming the accuracy of the information you have provided.
Can I bring a friend to the interview?
You may bring a relative, friend, advisor or other representative with you. You will also be asked if you wish to be interviewed by an officer of the same sex if you would feel more comfortable with them.
What happens next?
An investigation would be carried out based on the information you have provided, we would then issue you with a formal written decision and this would take place within 28 days of the date of your application.
What help can I expect to receive?
The type of support we will offer to you will depend on our decision. If you receive a positive decision, we will offer you permanent accommodation. If you receive a negative decision, we will offer you advice and support to help you find your own accommodation. If you have nowhere to stay whilst we are carrying out our investigation, you will be offered temporary accommodation until a final decision has been reached on your application.
What if I become homeless outwith office hours?
We offer a Homeless Out of Hours Service which is available to anyone that requires assistance outwith our office hours. (Freephone Number 0800 196 500.)
What if I am not happy with your decision about my application?
You have the right to appeal any decision relating to your homeless application within 21 days of your decision being reached. If you wish to appeal against our decision, you should write to the Principal Officer, Homelessness clearly stating the reason for your appeal. You will also be entitled to free independent advice from the Community Housing Advisory Project (CHAP) who can advocate on your behalf. We will then invite you to come to an interview to discuss your appeal.
Useful contacts
Our Area Housing Offices
Barnardos North Ayrshire Families Service (BNAFS) 01294-555555
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB):
Irvine 01294 278051
Kilbirnie 01505 682830
Largs 01475 686100 or 01475 673586
Saltcoats 01294 467848
Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP) 01294 313137 or 0800 169 3985
Community Mental Health Team (CMHT):
North Team 01294 470010
South Team 01294 274006
Debt Advice 01294 324853
North Ayrshire Women's Aid 01294 602424
Other local housing providers
Irvine Housing Association 01294 271128
Ayrshire North Community Housing Organisation (ANCHO) 01294 313121
Cunninghame Housing Association (CHA) 01294 468360
SHELTER 0808 800 4444
Homeless Out of Hours Service 0800-019-6500
(back to Frequently Asked Questions)