Homelessness

For individuals who are homeless and have no fixed address you can contact New Hope Trust which is a local homelessness charity based in Watford, which provides emergency accommodation for homless people. It also provides a day centre, a night shelter and longer-term accommodation, plus a full range of support services.

If you tell Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) that you are  homeless or if you are threatened with homelessness you can make a homeless application via our portal. 

The Housing Team will ask you to explain your current situation in depth and assess your housing need. TRDC has a duty to try to prevent homelessness so the advice that you will be given will be to try and ensure that you can stay in your current home. We will look at all of the options available and provide you with a personalised housing plan. 

We will work with you for a minimum of 56 days if you are threatened with homelessness and a further 56 days if you become homeless.

If you are homeless and we have not been able to relieve your homelessness the Council will make a decision on whether you are owed a duty to find you longer term accommodation. 

If the Council considers you to be homeless, eligible for assistance and in priority need, it will ensure you have temporary accommodation available for your occupation whilst the Council try to find you alternative longer term accommodation.  This will most likely be in the private sector. 

If the Council have been unable to source you alternative accommodation and you are unintentionally homeless with a local connection to TRDC we will owe you a duty to secure longer term accommodation for you either in social housing or in private housing through the Rent Deposit Guarantee Scheme. Please see further details of our policy for Private Rented Sector Offers.

What if I am not in priority need?

• You will be given a personalised housing plan and the council will take reasonable steps to source alternative accommodation for you.
• The Council would not owe a duty to provide you with temporary or permanent accommodation but will continue to work with you. 
• You can be referred to alternative support agencies and housing providers, Social Services, Herts Young Homeless Group, mediation services, Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and financial advisors.

What if I don't have a local connection with Three Rivers?

• If you are threatened with homelessness Three Rivers will owe you a prevention duty and work with you to stop you from becoming homeless. 
• If Three Rivers District Council decides you are eligible for assistance and homeless then a referral is made to the council you do have a connection with, so they can help you further.

If you are fleeing Domestic Violence, a local connection is not necessary.

What if I disagree with the council’s decision?

If you are told that we do not have an obligation to secure you accommodation, you will receive written notification of our decision. This notification will advise you of your right to appeal against the decision and how to go about requesting a review.

What is the Reviews Procedure?

An applicant has 21 days from the date in which they receive their decision to request a review

An applicant then has 14 days from the date of the review requested to provide further information for consideration

Reviews are considered and determined by an independent reviewer, who will not have been involved in the original decision. The reviewer will look at the information on your file, along with your written submission and any further evidence in support of your appeal.

The Reviewing Officer has 56 days from the date of the review request to make a decision on the case.