HOW TO ACCESS US?
Please click below for details of the referral process
To access our Blackpool hostels, a referral MUST be submitted by Blackpool's Housing Options team. Please contact them using the below information:
- 01253 477760
- housing.options@blackpool.gov.uk
- Housing Options, Chapel Street, Blackpool, FY1 5DA
We accept both self-referrals and referrals from agencies for our Sunderland hostel.
Please click below for our referral form:
Please ensure that the referral is completed in full, so that we can undertake an initial risk and need assessment based on your client’s circumstances, in order to make a decision as to whether you or your client is suitable for our service.
If your client is suitable and we have vacancies, we will be in touch with either yourself or your client, in order to arrange a face to face interview with our Hostel Manager. Following this interview your client will be informed of the decision.
If your client is unsuitable for our service, which could be dependent on the current mix of clients we are already accommodating, then you will be informed and the referral will be held on our system for a period of up to 30 days, in case a suitable vacancy arises.
After 30 days the referral will be deleted and a new referral will have to be made.
All referrals into our service MUST be made using our new Referral Form, which can be downloaded above. Please note that we DO NOT accept referrals over the telephone. This is to ensure an initial risk and need assessment is carried out before a decision to interview you can be made.
Please be as honest as possible when completing the referral form and complete all sections in full.
Once completed this can then be emailed back to referrals.sunderland@homelessaction.org.
Alternatively, you can submit a referral to Sunderland below.
Additional Support
Referrals through agency or local authority
Councils or ‘Local Authorities’, have a duty to help people experiencing homelessness. Please contact your local council to find out what help they can offer. Depending on your circumstances, this could be:
- Emergency accommodation – like a shelter or hostel
- Long term accommodation – such as social housing. If possible, you should approach the council you have a local connection to – usually the place you have most recently lived. You can use the Gov.uk website to find your local council using this link: https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council
If you are able to, we would encourage you to visit a day centre for people experiencing homelessness. Homeless Link provides a searchable database of homeless services https://www.homeless.org.uk/search-homelessness-services so you can find the nearest option for you. Day centres can help you by providing:
- Food, shelter and washing facilities
- Housing advice
- Skills and employment training
- Social and support networks
Not every day centre offers the same facilities. If you have a particular need, staff at the day centre may be able to signpost you to the help you need.
Money advice and debt charities
If you’re worried about paying your rent, you should speak to advisory organisations like the Citizen’s Advice, Step Change or the Money Advice Service. They will be able to help you look into options like debt management plans, or direct you to help available to you.