Homelessness and rough sleeping

Visit our page on Asylum accommodation and support for information on the types of support available to people who have applied for asylum, and how to apply for support.

If you are an undocumented migrant who has never made a claim for asylum, and is at risk of homelessness, you may be entitled to what is known as schedule 10 support. More information on how to apply to schedule 10 support is available on the No Recourse to Public Funds website.

If you are undocumented and have children, or you are pregnant, the local authority may have a duty to provide you with accommodation and support. Contact your local authority for assistance. Project 17, a charity set up to end destitution among migrant children, may be able to provide you with advice.

If you have a mental or physical impairment or disability, your local authority may have a duty to provide you with accommodation and support.

Find your local authority. You should enter your current or most recent postcode. If you have never had an address, enter your current location to find the authority that may be responsible for you.

If you are a care leaver, your local authority may have a duty to provide you with accommodation and support.

You can use this online tool to find your local authority. You should enter your current or most recent postcode. If you have never had an address, enter your current location to find the authority that may be responsible for you.

If you are a victim of domestic abuse, you may be able to access support. You can contact the following organisations:

• the National Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0808 2000 247 (run by Refuge)
• the Men’s Advice Line, for male domestic abuse survivors – 0808 801 0327 (run by Respect)
• the Mix, information and support for under-25s in the UK – 0808 808 4994
• the National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline – 0800 999 5428 (run by Galop)
• the Samaritans, a 24/7 service – 116 123.

If you are a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, you may be entitled to support and accommodation through the UK’s National Referral Mechanism (NRM). You can also speak to the Salvation Army for advice on 0800 808 3733.

There are several organisations that can help you to understand what assistance you might be entitled to from your local authority, and can help you to access the relevant support.

Shelter, the Citizens Advice, Crisis and several other independent advice agencies provide advice for people who are homeless. Depending on your circumstances, they may be able to assist in advocating with your local council for an alternative accommodation. St Mungo’s and The Passage have a programme dedicated to supporting those from the Roma community who are sleeping rough in London.

There are also numerous voluntary sector organisations right across London that provide support, advice, guidance and advocacy for people who are homeless or rough sleeping. These include homeless day centres and specific advice services. You can search online for services in your local area.

If you will be sleeping rough tonight, you can let StreetLink know by calling 0300 500 0914, or via their website. StreetLink will pass this information to the homeless outreach team that works in the borough where you are sleeping. The outreach team will then visit you at that location (usually at night or very early in the morning) to carry out an assessment and discuss how they can help you off the streets. The options available to you will depend on your personal situation and the borough in which you are sleeping.

If you need access to the internet, most local libraries have computers with internet access available to the public. Find the nearest local library.

While many support providers do not share data with the Home Office without consent, some organisations do work with immigration authorities. So before providing them with your information, it is important that you ask them about their data-sharing practices with the Home Office.

Local authorities have different policies on data-sharing with the Home Office. You may want to speak to a lawyer about your data protection rights before you approach your local authority for help. The human rights organisation Liberty offers free and confidential advice online and over the phone on 0800 988 8177.

If you have a complaint about the way an organisation is handling your personal information, you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office.

Services commissioned by the Mayor of London will not pass on your data to the Home Office without your consent.