I’m expecting a baby
This page explains what to do if you are homeless and expecting a baby.
If you have found out that you or your partner are pregnant and you can safely stay where you are until nearer the due date, we would advise you to do this. If you cannot stay where you are and you are at risk of becoming homeless within 56 days you will need a referral to the homeless prevention service.
The steps to housing
Access to our housing, for those that need support to manage a tenancy, starts with a homeless prevention referral. These are processed by the local housing and homeless prevention service (HPS) within North East Lincolnshire Council.
Once a homeless prevention referral has been made, you will be contacted by the council. Firstly, they will be trying to find out if they have a legal duty to house you in an emergency or prevent your homelessness if it is likely within 56 days.
Secondary to this, they will be trying to find out if once you are housed, you are able to manage a tenancy on your own or you need ‘housing related support’. If you need housing related support (HRS) you will be referred to the Housing Related Support Framework at the council who will complete your support referral. When we are sent the support referral, we will make an offer of housing if we have something suitable.
What is the Housing Related Support Framework and what does the process look like? Click Button below to find out more:
When we have been matched to you as a support provider, and we can offer you housing, we will be in touch. You will be allocated an asset coach who will start working with you immediately to get you housed. You will complete a housing application with our referrals worker and we will ask for one or two references to support your application. When this is complete, and a formal offer of housing has been made, a tenancy sustainment worker will help you set up your rent and utilities in order to move in.
How to refer yourself to the homeless prevention service
To receive help in an emergency, or to get access to housing that comes with tenancy support, you need to start with a homeless prevention referral. This form is available on the NEL Council’s website and can be filled in by you, someone helping you or a professional who is referring you on your behalf.
Once the form is submitted, someone from the homeless prevention service will call you back. This could be the same day, within 48 hours or within 5-7 working days, depending on how serious your situation is.
If you already have a referral in place, we cannot refer you again. We will wait to see if you are then referred on to the housing related support framework where you can access our housing and floating support.
If you are under 18 pregnant
To access our housing when you are under 18 and pregnant, you will need a ‘child in need’ assessment, carried out by children’s services. Once this has been completed and there has been a decision made under which part of the law you are to be housed under, we can accept a referral for your housing.
How soon can I/we be housed?
This is different for each person. Sometimes we accept someone for housing even when the property is not ready yet. It might be that we are waiting for someone to move out or there are repairs and decorating to be completed.
If your situation is an emergency it is the duty of the local council to provide you with accommodation until our housing is ready. We do not provide emergency housing but we will respond to your situation as quickly as is reasonably possible.
If you are pregnant and not being housed as a couple, we may not offer you a house or flat right away. If you are early in your pregnancy, on a low income, and need housing right away, you may be offered a room in shared housing. This is because you will only be offered a single-room rate via housing benefit until your full entitlement comes in when the baby arrives. Once you approach the 29 weeks mark we will start to move you in to a family property.
For some single parents and some couples we may offer a self contained flat in our Parent & Baby accommodation. This can be offered from around 20 weeks.
