Emergency accommodation
We may provide you with emergency accommodation if you:
- have nowhere safe to stay
- have a priority need
Emergency accommodation could be a bed and breakfast or another type of accommodation.
There is a massive demand for emergency accommodation, so we may ask you to move at short notice.
When you are in emergency accommodation, you must:
- sign a licence agreement before you move in (you could be asked to leave if you break the terms of the agreement)
- pay a 'client contribution' fee
- keep looking for your own housing
If you haven't found anywhere suitable to live after 56 days, we will give you a decision on your homelessness application.
Our decision could mean we must provide you with longer term housing until you find a settled home. If we decide that you are not eligible for help, we will explain why and how we made our decision. You have the right to challenge our decision.
Longer term housing
We must provide you with longer term housing if you:
- have a priority need
- are legally homeless and this is not your fault
- have a local connection to Dorset
- are not intentionally homeless
This is called the main housing duty.
We will provide longer term housing until you find a settled home. A settled home could be private rented accommodation that is available for at least 12 months, or social or affordable housing.
We won't provide longer term housing if your circumstances change so that you are no longer eligible for help, or you refuse an offer of suitable housing.
