Youth Homelessness

Our Prevention service will try to help you stay in your own home and avoid homelessness.

If we cannot help you stay at home or it is unsafe we will try to help you find another housing option.

If you want to make a homeless application our Youth Housing Options Officer will go through this assessment.

This assessment will help us decide if we can provide you a permanent house. If you've nowhere to stay whilst we make this assessment we will help arrange temporary accommodation. This is likely to be anywhere in West Lothian.

We have really high waits for housing and if you are entitled to permanent house you will have to choose a certain amount of areas so we can help you find a home as quickly as possible.

Homeless Prevention

It may be possible to help you stay in your current home or find another home that avoids the need to become homeless, especially if action is taken early.

Mediation

If there is conflict in the family home, we may be able to help resolve these issues.

Relationship Advice

If there is an issue affecting you and your family we may be able to help support you and your family.

Personal Housing Plan

We can help you form a plan with all the housing options that are available to you.

Respite

We can help to provide some time out through our partner service Rock Trust Night Stop so that support can be put in place to help prevent the breakdown of your current home or find another longer term option.

Homeless Assistance

If we are not able to prevent your homelessness full homeless assistance can be provided.

Homeless Support

We can help support you to manage your own tenancy, become an active member of the community and take part in opportunities to achieve your full potential.

Temporary Accommodation

If you are homeless and require temporary accommodation we can arrange this for you.

You don't have to be sleeping on the street to be homeless.  You might have a roof over your head and still be homeless. 

• Legislation says that you are homeless if you:
• Can't reasonably live in your accommodation
• Face or are at risk of violence or harassment - e.g. from someone in your home
• Can't reasonably stay there because of overcrowding which is affecting your health
• Can't reasonably stay there because of a poor standard
• Don't have permission to stay there or family or friends you have been staying with have asked you to leave
• May be threatened with homelessness, if you are going to lose your accommodation within two months

Here is what you can expect from us:

• We will listen carefully to everything you tell us, treating your concerns with understanding.
• We will be sensitive about any personal information you tell us.
• We will not discriminate against you because of your:
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Gender
  • Pregnancy and maternity
  • Race
  • Religion or belief
  • Sexual orientation
• We will treat you with consideration and respect the confidentiality of your situation.
• Our Youth Prevention Officer will try to help you avoid becoming homeless.

Youth Housing Options Officer

If you are aged 16-18 and think you may be homeless or at risk of homelessness call:-

Youth Housing Options service - 01506 280000

Young Person Emergency Prevention Officer

If you are aged 16-18 and finding it hard at home and need some advice call:-

Lisa Campbell - 07812 339 462

OUT OF HOURS CRISIS SERVICE

If you find yourself homeless in a crisis situation and need immediate accommodation out of office hours (between 5pm - 8:30am) call:-

Out of Hours - 01506 280000