Three things to remember when making a homeless application in Scotland

Govan Law Centre (GLC) is circulating information across Glasgow in our Prevention of Homelessness Rights Hubs to try and help people avoid common pitfalls when making a homeless application.

We've seen an increasing pattern where some people are indadvertedly prejudicing their legal rights through common mistakes. We have put together three straightforward messages to try and counter this:-

Don’t be put off. You’ve a right to get somewhere to stay. You might be told about ‘housing options’ or that there is no temporary accommodation available so come back later. Don’t be put off. If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness you have a right to make a homeless application. If you are homeless you have a right to obtain accommodation until the council makes its final decision.

Only give up existing accommodation if it’s an emergency. If you leave your home without a good reason you might be ‘intentionally homeless’ which means the council don’t have to give you a tenancy.  Always take free legal advice before you decide, unless it’s an emergency in which case put your safety first.

Never refuse an offer of a tenancy without taking advice. If you’ve made a homeless application and get an offer of a tenancy never just refuse it. If you do the council can say they have ‘discharged’ their duty, which means they don’t have to help you anymore. Instead, you can appeal it. Govan Law Centre can provide free legal advice how to appeal.

Three things to remember when making a homeless application in Scotland

GLC recruitment: Vulnerable Client Caseworker, Prevention of Homelessness Project

Vacancy for a Vulnerable Client Caseworker at Govan Law Centre

Salary: £23,869

Salary info: 34 hours per week. Funded till 2018 continuing funding being sourced.
Status: Full time
Closing date: 12/02/16
Location: Glasgow

The role:  Govan Law Centre Prevention of Homelessness Project require a Vulnerable Client Caseworker to provide; Housing and Homelessness rights advice, representation and advocacy in terms of current Housing and Homelessness Law and Policy and in terms of section 11 of the Homelessness etc (Scotland) Act 2003.

Provide housing advice across all tenures; Social Rented, Owner Occupied & Private Rented Sector, and to people experiencing, or at risk of Homelessness. Work with and provide support to vulnerable individuals and groups. Based in Govan Law Centre and outreach throughout Glasgow.  Govan law centre (GLC) is an independent, charitable community controlled law centre operating in Scotland.

Click here for the Job Specification for this post.

Please send or email CV and Covering Letter to:
Alistair Sharp
Senior Coordinator/Manager POHP, Govan Law Centre, Unit 4, 18-20 Orkney Street,
Glasgow G51 2BZ

Closing Date: 4pm Friday 12th February 2016

Telephone 0141 440 2503
Email:    m@ govanlc.com

Please note that if you have not received a response from Govan Law Centre by Friday 19th February 2016 then you have been not been successful on this occasion.

GLC recruitment: Vulnerable Client Caseworker, Prevention of Homelessness Project

Glasgow family beat the bedroom tax with Govan Law Centre's bedroom tax toolkit

Here GLC Prevention of Homelessness Project (POHP) caseworker, Garry Burns, gives an update on one local family who have used Govan Law Centre's (GLC) bedroom tax toolkit and successfully challenged the bedroom tax.

"The family used GLC's toolkit and sent a dispute form into the local authority advising that due to a disability within the family they required an overnight carer. The local authority started asking questions about who the carer was looking for the address of the carer who provided the overnight care.

The family actually didn't have one person who provided care because like most families they support one another and there are several family members who lend a hand. We supported the family in how best to deal with this issue and aided them in writing a letter back to the local authority advising of their own personal circumstances.

Within a week the local authority responded to our client advising that they would now be exempt from the bedroom tax. Govan Law Centre were able to give the family advice and support throughout all of this and give advice on a number of legalities pertaining to benefits, not just the bedroom tax to take away some of the stress in dealing with their local authority. We continue to support our clients every day; the bedroom tax is just one issue that we are currently supporting our community with.

When we need to take a case on we do, but when a client is only in need of a bit of support to challenge decisions themselves, we empower our clients with the tools to fight back and obtain their legal rights. We are proud that we have supported this family in challenging their local authority and would say that this is a fantastic bit of news for the individuals involved, but crucially it shows what can be done when you challenge decisions".

Glasgow family beat the bedroom tax with Govan Law Centre's bedroom tax toolkit

New GLC prevention of homelessness report published online

GLC's Prevention of Homelessness Project (POHP) has prevented 1,200 people in the Southside of Glasgow becoming homeless in the last two years. Govan Law Centre has run the Prevention of Homelessness Project in the city's South West based upon the belief that early intervention and holistic multidisciplinary services, tailored to each individual, can help prevent unnecessary evictions.

In our new POHP progress report for the Oak Foundation - which is published online here: 'Download GLC POHP report as PDF' - we explain how our new project has prevented 1,200 people from becoming homeless, saving about £25.5million in public money from December 2010 to December 2012. We believe if the approach of our scheme was extended nationwide it could potentially save the Scottish Government as much as £320m.

Mike Dailly, GLC's principal solicitor, said: "With our project, we show that early intervention works, but also that it has to be co-ordinated. Often people who are in these difficult situations will not go for help early on. We provide not just very fast specialist legal and money advice services, but we can also connect the person with any other services he or she may need."

The project employs a partnership between the centre, Govan Money Matters Advice Centre and Glasgow City Council's Southside Social Work Department, as well as different voluntary organisations, such as the Scottish Association For Mental Health.

It is designed to highlight that eviction and repossession are usually the tip of a whole range of social and associated problems for those who are vulnerable to the risk of homelessness.

The project recognises there are important indicators that could result in problems leading to eviction and homelessness. These could include those in rent arrears or living in poverty, or those with social worries, such as health or mental health problems.

People who look vulnerable are flagged up by the partnership to the Law Centre early on, which can then intervene or refer them to the appropriate support.

Alistair Sharp, GLC's senior project coordinator, said: "We are looking at savings to the public purse and preventing people facing the trauma of eviction and homelessness. Court action can be avoided by early intervention."

New GLC prevention of homelessness report published online