Homeless or At Risk of Homelessness
What to do if you do not have somewhere safe to stay, are about to lose your housing, or need urgent housing advice in Scotland.
If you do not have somewhere safe to stay, or you are worried you might lose your housing, ask for help as early as possible.
You do not need to wait until you are sleeping outside.
Start with the most urgent thing you need right now.
If you are not safe right now
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 now.
This includes if someone might hurt you, you might hurt yourself, you are being threatened, or you feel unable to stay safe where you are.
You do not need to explain everything perfectly. This sentence is enough to start.
“I am homeless and I do not feel safe right now.”
What do you need most right now?
Choose the option that feels closest. You can come back and choose another one afterwards.
Now add a simple list of links. Do not use cards. Use text rows with dividers.
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For homelessness, sleeping rough, sofa surfing, unsafe housing, or no safe place to sleep.
Go to this section → -
For eviction, being asked to leave, relationship breakdown, rent problems, bail address issues, or family conflict.
Go to this section → -
For panic, suicidal thoughts, distress, fear, shame, or feeling unable to manage.
Go to this section → -
For temporary accommodation, homelessness assessment, council duties, or being unsure what you can ask for.
Go to this section → -
For family, friends, partners, or loved ones trying to help someone with nowhere safe to stay.
Go to this section → -
For local council numbers, homelessness services, and local support.
Go to this page →
I don’t have anywhere to stay tonight
If you do not have somewhere safe to stay tonight, contact your local council homelessness team as soon as possible.
In Scotland, councils have legal duties to help people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This can include temporary or emergency accommodation when needed.
What you can do right now
Contact your local council homelessness team
Ask to make a homeless application
Ask for temporary or emergency accommodation
Tell them if you are unsafe, in crisis, leaving hospital, leaving custody, or fleeing harm
Go somewhere safer while you make calls, such as A&E, a police station, or a safe public place
Call 999 if there is immediate danger
“I am homeless and need emergency accommodation tonight.”
What you can say:
Who can help
Local homelessness support services
NHS 24 on 111 if your mental health is also at risk
999 if there is immediate danger
I’m about to lose my housing
Do not wait until you are fully homeless. If you think you may lose your housing, contact your local council as early as possible.
You can ask for help if you are homeless now or at risk of homelessness. Scottish Government guidance says councils have duties to people threatened with or experiencing homelessness, including advice, assistance and temporary accommodation.
What this might include
You have been asked to leave
Your relationship has broken down
You are at risk from someone at home
You cannot safely return home
You are leaving hospital, custody, prison, or care
You are facing eviction
You are struggling with rent
You do not have a safe bail address
You are sofa surfing and it is ending
What you can do right now
Tell them you are at risk of homelessness
Ask for housing advice before leaving your accommodation
Get advice before giving up a tenancy
Keep copies of letters, texts, emails, court papers, or eviction notices
Contact Shelter Scotland or Citizens Advice Scotland for advice
“I am at risk of homelessness and need help before I lose my accommodation.”
What you can say:
Housing association or landlord, if safe and appropriate
Solicitor or advice service if legal action is involved
Who can help
I’m also in crisis or not coping
Housing crisis and mental health crisis can make each other worse. If you are homeless, unsafe, or about to lose housing and you are also not coping, tell services both things.
Do not separate them when asking for help.
What you can do right now
Call 111 and ask for urgent mental health support
Tell them you are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Ask about your local crisis team
Go to A&E if you feel unable to stay safe
Call 999 if there is immediate danger
“I am homeless and in mental health crisis. I need urgent help to stay safe.”
What you can say:
NHS 24 on 111
Shout text support on 85258
A&E if you feel unsafe
999 if there is immediate danger
Who can help
I don’t understand my rights
In Scotland, you have strong rights if you are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
You do not need to understand all laws before asking for help. Start by asking your local council for a homelessness assessment.
A homelessness assessment
Temporary or emergency accommodation if you need it
Housing advice and assistance
Help if you are at risk of homelessness
A written decision if the council says they cannot help
Advice if temporary accommodation feels unsuitable
Support even if your situation is complex
Shelter Scotland says the council has a legal duty to offer temporary accommodation while it looks into your homeless application, and Citizens Advice Scotland says councils have duties to provide temporary housing to people applying for homeless help while decisions are being made.
You can ask for
What you can do right now:
Contact your local council and say you want to make a homeless application
Ask for temporary accommodation if you need somewhere to stay
Ask for the decision in writing if they say they cannot help
Contact Shelter Scotland if you are refused help
Contact Citizens Advice Scotland if you need independent advice
Keep a note of who you spoke to and what they said
“I need to make a homeless application and I need temporary accommodation while this is assessed.”
What you can say:
Advocacy or support worker, if you have one
Who can help
I’m supporting someone who is homeless
If someone you care about is homeless or at risk of homelessness, focus on safety, shelter, and support.
You do not need to fix everything at once. Start with whether they are safe tonight.
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Ask:
Are they safe right now?
Do they have somewhere to stay tonight?
Are they at risk from someone else?
Are they at risk of harming themselves?
Are they sleeping rough, sofa surfing, or staying somewhere unsafe?
Are they in crisis or not coping?
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Check:
Have they contacted the council?
Have they asked for a homeless application?
Have they asked for temporary accommodation?
Do they have ID, phone, charger, medication, and important paperwork?
Do they need help getting to the council, A&E, or somewhere safer?
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Help them:
Call the local council homelessness team
Call NHS 24 on 111 if their mental health is at risk
Contact Shelter Scotland or Citizens Advice Scotland
Write down who has been contacted
Stay with them or help them get somewhere safer
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Use bullets:
Panic, shame, anger, or hopelessness
Talking about suicide or not wanting to live
Withdrawal or silence
Risk-taking behaviour
Increased use of alcohol or substances
Not sleeping or eating
Missing medication
Saying goodbye or giving things away
Refusing help because they feel like a burden
“I’m supporting someone who is homeless and I’m worried they are not safe.”
You do not need their permission to call 999 if there is immediate danger.
What you can say:
What often goes wrong here
Housing crisis is often treated as separate from mental health, custody, hospital discharge, court, family breakdown, or addiction.
But these issues often happen together.
People are told to wait until they are actually homeless
People do not know they can ask for a homelessness assessment
Mental health risks are not clearly explained to housing services
Housing, healthcare, police, courts, and social work may not communicate well
People leave hospital or custody without somewhere safe to go
Loved ones may not know who to call
People may feel too ashamed or overwhelmed to ask for help
People may be refused help or given unclear information
If this has happened to you, it is not your fault. You can still ask for help now.
What matters most right now
You do not need to solve everything today.
Get somewhere safer.
Ask for emergency accommodation if you need it.
Tell services if you are also in crisis.
Everything else can come later.