Homeless or at risk
Homeless assessment
In South Ayrshire, people presenting themselves as homeless are interviewed by skilled
and experienced staff at the Housing Options Service. You can drop in during working hours or make an appointment to speak to someone if you are homeless at a local
housing office.
Detailed information on the assessment process can be found in the Scottish
Government's Code of Guidance on Homelessness June 2009. The code provides guidance
on how local authorities interpret each of these criteria.
When assessing your application the Housing Options Officer needs to consider:
- If you are homeless
- If you are unintentionally homeless
- If you have a local connection
You may be homeless if you have nowhere you can stay, if you have accommodation
that you cannot live in or you are going to become homeless within 2 months.
Am I intentionally homeless?
You may be intentionally homeless if you have done something or failed to do something
which has resulted in you losing your home. For example: failing to pay your rent
or mortgage or breaking your tenancy agreement.
Do I have a local connection?
You have a local connection if you have a family connection with South Ayrshire
or have lived in South Ayrshire for 6 months out of the last 12 months or 3 years
out of the last 5 years.
Once you have been interviewed the Housing Options Officer will assess your application
and you will be issued with a decision. We aim to issue the decision within 28 days
of your initial interview.
Assessment of homeless persons
When a person is assessed as being homeless, temporary accommodation will be provided
whilst the application is being assessed. During the decision making process Housing
Options Officers keep applicants informed of the progress being made with their
application. Applicants who are unhappy with the final decision that is made on
their application have a statutory right to request a review of the decision.
Applicants are also advised that they have a right to seek independent legal advice.
Appeals against any homeless decision should be submitted in writing within 21 days
of the decision to:
Homeless Casework Co-ordinator
Housing Options Service
80–88 Kyle Street,
Ayr, KA7 1RZ
The letter of appeal should outline as much detail as possible why the applicant
believes the decision is wrong.