If you’re experiencing homelessness or are at risk of becoming homeless, there are many charities and organisations that can offer help.
Find a hostel or shelter
If you need a hostel or shelter now, the housing charity Shelter offers a broad range of advice and guidance.
- Hostels
- Day Centres
- Night Shelters
- Women’s Refuge
- B&Bs
- Housing for 16-25 yr olds
- Emergency housing – Scotland
The Pavement magazine also has a list of night shelters on its services page.
If you are in central London, you can access support at the Connection at St Martin-in-the-Fields.
Get advice from your council
If you’re homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, your local council is likely to have a duty to help you stay in your home or find accommodation.
They may also have a duty to house you depending on your circumstances, such as if you have children who depend on you. They have to provide you with advice on your housing situation and alternative housing options.
Find out more about local councils:
- Get help from your council
- A council’s duty: The Homelessness Reduction Act
- Apply to an English or Welsh council for housing
- Apply to a Scottish council for housing
Access a specialist service
If you or someone you know needs support and advice on wellbeing matters, legal rights, money, domestic violence, benefits or youth homelessness, these organisations can help. Visit their websites or give them a call:
Legal advice
- Citizen’s Advice – 03454 04 05 06
- Asylum Advice UK – 0808 8010 503
Health & wellbeing
- The Samaritans – 116 123
Financial advice
- The Money Advice Service – 0800 138 7777
Domestic abuse
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247
- Men’s Advice Line – 0808 801 0327
Worried about safety?
If you (or someone else) are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police or an ambulance.
If you or someone you know is sleeping rough in England, Wales or Scotland, around the Glasgow area, these local services offer help:
- Streetlink (England, Wales)
- Simon Community (Glasgow) – 0800 0277 466
Find a free food station
Across Great Britain on any given day of the week, a number of organisations and volunteers provide free meals – hot breakfasts, lunches and dinners as well as soups, sandwiches and drinks – from various day centres, mobile kitchens and other venues.
- The Pavement – Food/Soup Runs (Look under Services and search by region)
- Homeless Link – day centres
- The Trussell Trust – Foodbank Network