On this page you will find information, advice and links from Lewisham Councils website, Shelter and information about local and national organisations.
Advice from Lewisham Council Website
Contact Lewisham on 0808 178 0939 if you are homeless, or likely to be homeless.
They will help you develop a personalised housing and wellbeing plan, which sets out what actions we will both take to prevent or relieve your homelessness.
- assess your housing situation
- work out what your needs are
- give you advice on the next steps to take.
Temporary Accommodation
https://lewisham.gov.uk/myservices/housing/get-housing-support/temporary-accommodation
Temporary accommodation is interim housing for residents who’ve made a homelessness application to Lewisham Council. Providing you meet the council’s application criteria you will be likely placed in hostel temporary accommodation whilst your homelessness application is being assessed by the council and then moved into private sector leased accommodation as the next stage.
Once your homelessness application is successful you will be able to begin bidding for permanent accommodation through FindYourHome.
Types of temporary accommodation
There are three types of temporary accommodation provided by Lewisham Council
- Nightly Paid – Typically short term bed and breakfast accommodation;
- Hostel – Typically kitchen and bedroom units with shared bathroom facilities;
- Private Sector Leased – Properties owned by a private landlord but managed by Lewisham Homes on behalf of Lewisham Council.
You can find out more about what to expect from temporary accommodation and how to make a homelessness application here.
Shelter
Read Shelter’s step-by-step guide about how to get support from the Council if you are homeless or facing homelessness within eight weeks. The guide tells you about how we can help: how to ask us for help, homeless assessments, personal housing plans, who qualifies for housing, challenging a decision.
Support in Lewisham
The 999 Club
The 999 Club is near the Lewisham and Southwark college building a 2-minute walk from Deptford Bridge DLR station. If you are rough sleeping or at risk of homelessness and would like support there are a variety of ways you can contact them: at the office on 0208 694 5797 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday, on 0772 725 4603 0r 0772 725 8759 between 9:30 am and 4 pm, Monday to Friday, or via email: office@999club.org
Citizens Advice Lewisham
Citizens Advice Lewisham can help with any housing issues that might arise for both private and social tenants. This includes issues with rent arrears, evictions, homelessness or disrepair.
Call our Advice Line on 0800 231 5453.
Homeless Link
Services Offered to those who are in housing need or homeless:
- Assessment of entitlement to housing for people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness.
- Temporary accommodation where a statutory duty may exist.
- General housing advice and information for those in housing need.
Best way to get in touch
Phone or call in to make an appointment.
Laurence House, 1 Catford Road, SE6 4RU
0808 178 0939
Opening times
- Monday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Tuesday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Wednesday: 12.30pm – 3.30pm
- Thursday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Friday: 9am – 3.30pm
- Out of hours (after 5pm) emergencies phone 020 8778 0877
- Housingoptionsenquiry@lewisham.gov.uk
National Support
Crisis
If you’re homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless, you can talk to Crisis about becoming a member.
They can help to:
- find a safe home and settle in
- learn, get an education and skills training
- find work and apply for jobs
- look after your health and well-being
- volunteer and meet new people
Find out more about what Crisis offer.
Depaul
Youth homelessness in the UK affects hundreds of thousands of people each year. Young people become homeless for a number of reasons but the common causes are family breakdown, bereavement, mental health issues and a history of abuse. Because of this they have complex needs which require a package of bespoke support.
Each young person who arrives at Depaul UK has different challenges which they need to overcome to leave homelessness behind and achieve safety and stability in their lives.
Depaul offer emergency accommodation and longer term housing and accommodation services for young people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Single Homeless Project
The Single Homeless Project are a London-wide charity working to prevent homelessness and help vulnerable and socially excluded people to transform their lives.
