I am Sleeping Rough Expand If you are already sleeping rough, it’s really important that you speak to the housing team at your local council so that they know that you need accommodation and support. You can read our tips on speaking to your local council to help you get the support you need. If you have no choice but to sleep rough tonight, it’s important to try to keep yourself as safe as you can, and to approach local street homelessness services for support. If you have access to the internet or a mobile phone, you can call Llamau’s Youth Homeless Helpline, run in partnership with Shelter Cymru, free of charge, on 08000 495 495. Highly trained colleagues and volunteers will help you to access safe temporary accommodation and provide advice on how to keep yourself safe. If you are in immediate danger, you should call the emergency services on 999.
I can't stay at home any more Expand Many of the young people we support became homeless because they could no longer stay in their family home – sometimes because of difficulties with relationships and sometimes because it isn’t safe for them to stay at home any more. If you are experiencing violence, abuse or threatening behaviour at home, it is really important that you seek support to find alternative accommodation. If you’re in Wales and are at risk of becoming homeless in the next 56 days, your local authority has a duty to find you alternative accommodation, particularly if it is not safe for you to stay at home. If you are experiencing difficulties in your relationship with other people at home, Family Mediation could be a good option for you. Llamau’s Family Mediation is very successful at helping to resolve issues between young people and their families, and could support you to continue living at home. You can get in touch with our Family Mediation services using the following details: In Cardiff - 029 2087 3570 In Vale of Glamorgan - 07966 981117 In Newport - 01633 244 134 In RCT - 01443 432 260 In Caerphilly - 01633 244 134 In Merthyr Tydfil - 01685 379 999 In Monmouthshire - 07966 981083 In Torfaen - 01633 244 134 In Bridgend - 07966 981076 / 07966 981048 In Neath Port Talbot - 07542330270 If you are under 18 and are being asked to leave home or are experiencing violence, abuse or threats at home, you should contact Children’s Services at your local council. If you’re at school or college, you should speak to a teacher or trusted adult who can support you or help you with contacting your local authority. If you have been asked to leave home and do not have a safe place to spend the night, you can call Llamau’s Youth Homeless Helpline, run in partnership with Shelter Cymru, free of charge, on 08000 495 495. Highly trained colleagues and volunteers will help you to access safe temporary accommodation and provide advice on how to keep yourself safe. You can also get confidential free support from ChildLine on 0800 1111 and at www.childline.org.uk
I am sofa surfing Expand Many young people stay with friends or people they don’t know because they don’t have anywhere else to live. Even though you are not sleeping on the streets, this is still classed as being homeless, and you should seek help from your local council. You should approach your local council to explain your situation and to make a homelessness application. They are required to consider your application and your situation before deciding whether you are eligible for support. If you are under 18 and are sofa surfing because you have been kicked out of your home or have experienced violence, threats or abuse at home, you should contact the children’s services team at your local council. If you’re at school or colleges you should speak to a teacher or trusted adult about supporting you to approach your local council. You can call Llamau’s Youth Homeless Helpline, run in partnership with Shelter Cymru, free of charge, on 08000 495 495. Highly trained colleagues and volunteers will help you to access safe temporary accommodation and provide advice on how to keep yourself safe. If you are in immediate danger where you are staying you should contact the police on 999.
Accessing Llamau accommodation Expand Our accommodation projects support young people aged 16-25 in Wales and women who have experienced domestic abuse or women who would not feel safe in mixed-gender accommodation. To live in one of our supported accommodation projects, you have to be referred by your local council in an area where we have accommodation projects. Local councils will offer different types of accommodation and we can’t guarantee that you will be referred to Llamau.
I need help with talking to the council Expand You don’t have to be sleeping on the streets to get help from your local council. If you are homeless or likely to become homeless in the next 56 days (this includes sofa surfing or staying somewhere temporarily) you should approach your council for help and it will have to follow the following procedures. You will be able to make a homelessness application The council will interview you and make an assessment of your circumstances and needs If you meet certain criteria, you may be given interim accommodation while the council continues its assessment of what help, if any, to offer you The council must inform you in writing of its decision about whether you are entitled to help – the letter will either be sent to you or left at the council’s offices for you to collect. If the council decides that it can’t help you, the letter must explain the reasons why. You can ask for a review of the council’s decision, but you must do this within 21 days of receiving the decision letter, and we would recommend getting advice to help with this review process. Even if the council decided that they can’t provide accommodation for you, you are still entitled to help and advice to avoid losing your home or to find somewhere else to live. If you live in Cardiff and are aged 16-20 (inclusive), you can contact Llamau’s advice services which we run in partnership with the council. You can visit the office at 53 Charles Street, call 029 2087 3570 or email [email protected] If you live in the Vale of Glamorgan and are aged 16-25, you can contact Llamau’s advice services which we run in partnership with the council. You can visit the JIGSO office at 236 Holton Road in Barry, call 01446 748852 or email [email protected]
I don't feel safe in my relationship Expand If you are in immediate danger, you should call the police on 999. If you have experienced or are experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence in your relationship or at home, you should call the Live Fear Free Helpline on 0808 80 10 800. You can call the helpline for free 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also email Live Fear Free on [email protected] or talk to someone confidentially using the Live Fear Free live chat service. Helpline staff will help you talk about your feelings, explore options, access local services, and to identify ways in which you can increase the safety of you and your children irrespective of what choices you may be making about your relationship. Information can also be provided on local services that can help to support and protect you as well as give you information on your rights and options.