Temporary Accommodation
The temporary accommodation team provide advice, help and support to people who live in homeless temporary accommodation in North Ayrshire. The team will focus on helping you take control of any issues which may at first appear overwhelming, and guide you through the homeless process. They can also direct you to other agencies if necessary.
Their aim is to work towards helping you gain and develop the skills you need to eventually keep your own tenancy and avoid becoming homeless again in the future. If you are assessed as being homeless and in need of temporary accommodation, your assessment officer will arrange this for you. A property officer will book you into your accommodation and arrange for an outreach support worker to visit you within three working days.
What is temporary accommodation and where is this likely to be?
What will temporary accommodation cost?
How long do I have to stay in temporary accommodation if I have been housed due to homelessness?
How long will it take for the Council to rehouse me if I am made homeless?
All my belongings are left behind in my old home and I am having to start again - is there any assistance I can get?
Can I take my dog/cat into the temporary accommodation?
What is temporary accommodation and where is this likely to be?
Temporary accommodation is offered to anyone who has nowhere to live within North Ayrshire. This consists of 2 hostels - Ardrossan Short Stay and Victoria House (Irvine).
We also have a number of temporary furnished tenancies throughout North Ayrshire. You may be offered accommodation at one of our hostels before being moved on to temporary furnished accommodation. We will try to provide accommodation in an area suitable to you. However, as temporary accommodation is limited, this is not always possible.
What will temporary accommodation cost?
The cost for temporary accommodation depends on the type of accommodation you are offered:
Temporary furnished accommodation includes a rent charge and a service charge to cover the cost of providing furniture and caretaking etc. You will be responsible for paying Council Tax and amenity charges. If you are in receipt of state benefit, you would be eligible for Housing Benefit depending on your circumstances. If you are employed, you will be eligible to pay rent and may be entitled to some assistance with Housing Benefit. However, this would be means tested against your income.
How long do I have to stay in temporary accommodation if I have been housed due to homelessness?
The time spent in temporary accommodation will depend upon each individual set of circumstances, but we try to keep the time that anyone spends in temporary accommodation to a minimum.
How long will it take for the Council to rehouse me if I am made homeless?
Our investigation to decide how we can help you should not take longer than 28 days. It is difficult to give an exact timescale on how long this might take as it depends on how many houses we have to allocate.
All my belongings are left behind in my old home and I am having to start again - is there any assistance I can get?
There are a number of organisations that we can contact to help you. These include local furniture supply and recycling projects. We will support you through this difficult time and give you advice.
Can I take my dog/cat into the temporary accommodation?
The Council has no specific legal duties towards pets. Councils do not normally arrange kenneling or pay for it. We may allow pets into some types of accommodation but not into hostel accommodation. If you are homeless and are unable to take your pets into your temporary accommodation, you should try and get friends or family to look after them for you.