Download our leaflet on Homelessness here (PDF format, 17 pages, 130 KB)
You don't have to be living on the streets to be homeless. You are homeless if you:
To be entitled to permanent accommodation, you have to meet the following four conditions which are set out by law.
Are you homeless or threatened with homelessness?
Always try to get advice before you are made homeless. You should get advice from Citizens Advice because you may find you are able to stay in your home.
If you are homeless, or threatened with homelessness within the next two months, you need to fill in a Homeless application form, (PDF format, 19 pages, 73.3 KB) which can be downloaded here (if you have Adobe Acrobat) or you can contact your local Area Housing Office.
However, if you have nowhere to go and it is after 5pm at night or a weekend, phone our out-of-hours team on 08457 565656.
If you are leaving hospital or prison and have no accommodation to go to, you should ask the social worker or community care officer to help you apply to us.
If you are homeless, we may find you somewhere temporary to stay while we look into your situation.
We have a leaflet on Homelessness, (PDF format, 17 pages, 130 KB) which you can download here (if you have Adobe Acrobat) or you can contact your local Area Housing Office.
Assessing your homeless application
When we receive your application, we will assess it and let you know what our duties are towards you under homeless legislation. You should include any information you may have that will help us make a decision.
The type of temporary accommodation we use includes hostels, furnished properties (with or without support) and sometimes bed-and-breakfast accommodation and private rented accommodation.
We will expect you to pay towards the cost of this accommodation although you may be eligible for Housing Benefit if you are on a low income.
Young people leave home for a variety of reasons. It is a natural step and can be very exciting, but it can be difficult to find somewhere to live in an area you want and it can be hard to keep that place going. Many young people who leave home end up in difficulty, or even homeless. You might be leaving to go to college, to a job, to get married or to move in with a partner. Living at home may have become crowded or tense, or you may just need your freedom. Whatever the reason, make sure you are ready to leave home. The first thing you need to know before leaving home is your options.
If you are under 16 years of age, you can’t normally leave home unless there are serious problems within your home or family relationships, such as violence. If you feel you need to leave home then Social Work Services have a responsibility to help you.
If you are aged 16 or over, you can leave home without your parent’s permission. This may sound great but the reality is much different. If you do find yourself homeless you should contact the Young Persons Officer.
We have a leaflet on Young People thinking of Leaving Home, (PDF format, 14 pages 13.6 KB) which you can download here (if you have Adobe Acrobat) or you can contact your local Area Housing Office.
If you are leaving a violent partner
Moray Women's Aid offers an advice service and provides temporary accommodation for women and children under the age of 16 who have to leave their accommodation because of domestic abuse, or you can contact your local Area Housing Office.
If you are a man leaving a violent partner, you should contact our Housing Needs Section or the out-of-hours team if this is outwith normal working hours.
If you are finding it difficult to get permanent accommodation, we have produced a guide to help you. The Moray Housing Options Guide sets out all the available housing opportunities in the area.
Shelter Scotland can provide advice, guidance and support to anyone who is made homeless. Visit their website to check out what they have available.
Opening Hours - 8.45am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday