Priority need

Priority need is one of the tests which a homeless person needs to pass for us to decide what help with housing you might be entitled to.

Other tests include whether the person is eligible for homeless assistance in terms of their immigration status, actually homeless, homeless through no fault of their own or intentionally homeless and has a local connection with the local area (determined by the local authority boundaries) where they are making their application.y

Automatic priority need

The following people are automatically in priority need:

• A pregnant woman or any person living with a pregnant woman.
• Households with children who live with them or who might reasonably be expected to reside with them.
• 16 and 17 year olds who are not being looked after by social services under the Children Act 1989.
• 18 – 20 year olds (other than some students) who at any time between 16 and 18 were, but are no longer, looked after, accommodated or fostered • Any person who has lost their accommodation as a result of an emergency (e.g. fire or flood or other disaster).
• A person who is homeless as a result of that person being a victim of domestic abuse.

Other than this a single person will only be classed a priority need if they can demonstrate they are vulnerable. 

A homeless person may be 'vulnerable', in the words of s189 (1) (c) Housing Act 1996 and the Homelessness (Priority Need for Accommodation) (England) Order 2002, as a result of:

• old age
• mental illness 
• mental handicap
• physical disability
• having been in care (and now 21 or over)
• having been in the armed forces
• having been in custody
• having fled actual or threatened violence or
• other special reason

The words ‘other special reason’ show that vulnerability arising from other causes (e.g. being a refugee) which will also be considered by our team.

If you have priority need

We do recognise how challenging being asked to provide evidence of vulnerability can be, particularly in difficult or unstable personal circumstances, however it is really important you work with us to provide us with the evidence we need to assess your case. 

If we have reason to believe you are homeless, eligible for help and may be in priority need, we will offer you temporary accommodation until we have made a decision on whether you are in priority need.

If you refuse an offer of temporary accommodation, our legal duty to secure further temporary accommodation can be brought to an end under section 193 of the Housing Act. This will mean that you will then have to make your own temporary accommodation arrangements until such time as a longer-term home becomes available, either through the housing register or other suitable avenues, such as private rented. 

If you are intentionally homeless and in priority need, we will provide you with temporary accommodation for a reasonable period - we will also offer you advice and assistance to help you secure longer-term accommodation.

Finding a longer term home

Once we have assessed you as having priority need, in addition to offering you temporary accommodation, we will then work with you to help you find suitable longer-term accommodation - this could be through the housing register or through other suitable avenues such as private rented.

• If you refuse to co-operate with the steps in your personalised housing plan, and are in priority need, we will make offer you a 'final accommodation offer. 
• If you refuse it, we will have no further duty to help you.

Find out what to expect if you do not have priority need.