Emergency guide
I have nowhere to sleep tonight
If you have nowhere safe to sleep, there is a short list of calls to make tonight. A few dates start later, when a council, a school or a letter answers you. This page lists what to do today, who to call and words you can use. The dates on your own papers always come first.
General information, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live. If you have a letter, notice or form with a date on it, get advice before that date passes.
Checked 9 October 2026 · re-check due 9 January 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If this has you thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour. If anyone is in danger now, or someone in the cold is shivering hard, confused, slurring words or very drowsy, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. If you are leaving an abusive home, call a domestic abuse line first: 1-800-799-7233 in the US, or your nation's line in the UK, below. Otherwise, for a bed tonight: 211 in the US; your council in England, Scotland and Wales (out-of-hours number on its website); in Northern Ireland the Housing Executive on 03448 920 908, at any hour. No food tonight: 211 in the US; in the UK, Trussell, below. Do not sleep in a car with the engine running, and never burn charcoal or use a camping stove inside a car or tent for warmth: the fumes can kill you in your sleep.
Today
- Call for a bed first (if you are leaving an abusive home, the abuse line comes first: see above): 211 in the US (if 211 does not answer where you are, find your local number at 211.org); your council's homelessness team in England, Scotland and Wales; the Housing Executive in Northern Ireland. Say: I have nowhere safe to sleep tonight.
- Write down the time, the name of the person and what they tell you.
- If you are told nothing is open, or to try another area: ask what else is open tonight, and ask the person you called to help you tonight anyway. In England, Scotland and Wales, having no link to the area does not stop the council helping you tonight.
- Ask for any decision in writing, and keep the letter: it starts a clock. If you have no address, give a phone number or email, ask how the decision will reach you, and check at the office for letters. A letter left there for you can count as given even if you never collect it.
- On a very cold night, ask whether extra beds or a warm space have opened for the cold.
- Keep what you cannot replace in one bag you can carry: ID, your phone and charger, medicines, any papers about your home or a court date, and anything your children need. Charge your phone whenever you can.
- If you are under 18 and on your own: in the US call the National Runaway Safeline on 1-800-786-2929. Anywhere in the UK you can call Childline on 0800 1111.
- Also: Under 18 in the UK, who to ask: in England and Wales the council's Children's Services, and in Scotland its social work department, not only the housing team; in Northern Ireland, social services or the Housing Executive (under 16: social services). If you have children in school in the US, tell the school today that your family has lost its housing and ask for the district's homeless liaison. Tell one person where you will be tonight and ask them to check on you in the morning.
The clocks that have started
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one. The details of each are on the page online; its address is at the bottom.
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Tap one to see when it starts and what happens if you miss it. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one.
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
School (US): your school must keep you enrolled, or enrol you now, even without papersImmediately.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- Immediately. The federal McKinney-Vento law says the school must enrol the child at once, even if you cannot produce records, proof of where you live or other papers, or the child missed enrolment deadlines while homeless. There is no federal date by which you must ask
- Starts
- the day you or your family lose housing and you want to be in school, or want your child in school. The federal definition covers sharing other people's housing because you lost your own, motels, shelters, cars, parks and similar places, and a young person on their own
- If missed
- no federal deadline is lost, but each day the child is out of school is a day missed: ask the school or the district's homeless liaison today. If a school turns the child away, ask for the district's homeless liaison by that title and say the child is covered by the McKinney-Vento law
- It lets you
- ask for either the school attended before or the school for the area where you are staying now. The district decides by the student's best interest, presumes the old school is best unless you ask otherwise, and must give priority to what you ask. You can ask the district for transport to the old school. If the school disputes it, the child stays enrolled while the dispute is settled, you get the reasons in writing, and the district's homeless liaison handles the appeal
Where this differs: This is a federal law, but your state and district run it: the district names a homeless liaison, so ask the school office for that person. It covers school-age children and young people, including a young person living apart from their parents. It does not pay for a place to live
Checked 9 October 2026 at 42 U.S.C. 11432(g)(3) (McKinney-Vento Act), via Cornell Law School
In the United Kingdom
England: the council must find you somewhere tonight while it decides, if you may be in 'priority need' (for example pregnant, with children, aged 16 or 17, or homeless because of abuse)No waiting time.England only
- How long
- No waiting time. The Housing Act 1996 says that if the council has reason to believe you may be homeless, eligible for help and in priority need, it must secure accommodation for you while it looks into your case. GOV.UK lists priority need as including being pregnant, having dependent children with you, being 16 or 17, being under 21 and in care between 16 and 18, being homeless after a flood, fire or other disaster, or being vulnerable, for example through old age or disability. The law also says a person homeless because of domestic abuse is in priority need
- Starts
- the day you have nowhere safe to stay: contact the council's homelessness team that day, or its out-of-hours number if the office is shut. You can be homeless without sleeping outside, for example if you are locked out or it is not safe to stay because of violence or abuse
- If missed
- nothing is lost by calling tonight. If you are turned away without a written decision, ask for one, write down the name of the person and the time, and call Shelter or a legal aid adviser the next weekday
- It lets you
- ask for somewhere to stay tonight while the council decides, and for its decision in writing. The duty applies even if you have no link to the area and your case may later be passed to another council. If you have fled abuse, the law says your case must not be passed to a council where you would be at risk of abuse. If the council does not think you are in priority need, it must still look at your case and take reasonable steps to help you find somewhere: ask what else is open tonight, and call Shelter the next weekday
Where this differs: England only. The council checks whether you are eligible for help, and immigration status can matter: if you are from abroad, get advice from Shelter. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules: see their clocks
Checked 10 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Housing Act 1996, section 188)
England, aged 16 or 17 and nowhere safe to stay: ask Children's Services todayContact Children's Services at your local council today, say your age and say that you have nowhere to stay.England only
- How long
- Contact Children's Services at your local council today, say your age and say that you have nowhere to stay. GOV.UK gives no waiting time and no deadline
- Starts
- today, the day you have nowhere safe to stay. The council's housing team can also help, but GOV.UK names Children's Services as the usual route at your age
- If missed
- nothing is lost by calling today, and each night without a safe place counts. If you are sent away or told to try the housing team only, say again that you are 16 or 17, ask for the reason in writing, and call Shelter or Childline
- It lets you
- GOV.UK says that if you are 16 or 17 and homeless you will usually be provided with accommodation by Children's Services, because you will be considered a 'child in need'. Children's Services will also consider whether you can return home or live with a relative, but they cannot force you to go back somewhere you do not feel safe. If you are under 16, contact Children's Services too: they can arrange for you to live with another family member or adult, or find emergency accommodation
Where this differs: England only: GOV.UK's page says it covers England. In Wales, a person aged 16 or 17 has priority need for housing help under the Housing (Wales) Act 2014. In Scotland, Citizens Advice Scotland says to contact the council's social work department, using its out-of-hours number at night; at 16 or 17 you can also apply as a homeless adult. In Northern Ireland, Housing Rights says social services or the Housing Executive will help at 16 or 17, and social services if you are under 16. Anywhere in the UK, Childline is free on 0800 1111
Checked 9 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Your rights to housing if you're under 18)
England: if the council says no, or offers less than you need, ask for a review within 21 days21 days, and the day you are told the decision counts as day 1, so the last day is earlier than you might think.England only
- How long
- 21 days, and the day you are told the decision counts as day 1, so the last day is earlier than you might think. Ask as soon as you can, not on the last day. The council can allow longer, but only in writing: if your letter gives a later date, that later date in writing holds
- Starts
- the day you are told the council's decision. Count from the date on the letter, or the day it was handed to you, whichever is earlier: do not count from the day you opened or read it. If you have no address, a letter the council leaves at its office for you to collect can count as given even if you never pick it up, so ask how it will reach you and check for it
- If missed
- after the 21 days the council does not have to look at it unless it agrees in writing to a longer time. Ask anyway, ask for more time in writing, and get advice from Shelter or a legal aid adviser the same day
- It lets you
- have the council look at the decision again. This covers decisions on whether you are eligible, what help the council owes you and whether the accommodation it offers is suitable; you can ask for a review of an offer whether or not you accept it. You do not have to give reasons to ask, but you should: say what the council got wrong or has not taken into account. Ask in writing, keep a copy, and ask Shelter or a legal aid adviser to help. When you ask for the review, ask in the same letter or email for the council to keep you housed until the review is decided. Your place can end when the council tells you its decision, whether or not you ask for a review: asking does not end it. The law lets the council keep you housed, so ask in writing, and if it says no, call Shelter or a legal aid adviser that day
Where this differs: England only. You cannot ask for a review of a review. If you are unhappy with the review decision, you can appeal to the county court on a point of law, and that has its own 21 days from the day you are told the result, so an adviser needs to read your papers before then. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own review rules: see their clocks
Checked 9 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities, chapter 19)
Wales: if you have nowhere tonight, the council must find you somewhere while it decidesNo waiting time for tonight.Wales
- How long
- No waiting time for tonight. The Housing (Wales) Act 2014 says that if the council has reason to believe you may be homeless, eligible for help and in priority need, it must secure suitable accommodation for you while it checks. Priority need includes, among others: being aged 16 or 17; being aged 18, 19 or 20 and either at particular risk of sexual or financial exploitation or having been in care at any time before you were 18; being homeless because of domestic abuse; and sleeping on the street because there is nowhere you are allowed to stay. If you disagree with a decision, ask for a review within 21 days, counting the day you are told the decision as day 1, or longer if the council allows in writing
- Starts
- the day you have nowhere to sleep, or may lose the place you have: tell your local council that day. You can be homeless without sleeping outside, for example if you are staying with friends or in a hostel. If you have no address, a letter the council leaves at its office for you to collect can count as given even if you never pick it up, so ask how it will reach you and check for it
- If missed
- after the 21 days the council does not have to review unless it agrees in writing to a longer time. Ask anyway, ask for more time in writing, and get advice the same day
- It lets you
- ask the council for help to keep your home or to find another, and ask for its decision in writing. If it says no or offers a place you cannot use, ask for a review within the 21 days: ask in writing, keep a copy, and call Shelter Cymru. When you ask for the review, ask in the same letter or email for the council to keep you housed until the review is decided. Your place can end when the council tells you its decision, whether or not you ask for a review: asking does not end it. The law lets the council keep you housed, so ask in writing, and if it says no, call Shelter Cymru or a legal aid adviser that day
Where this differs: Wales only. A 2026 Welsh law will change parts of this, including priority need, but no date has been set for those parts and they are not in force: the rules above are the ones that apply now. Shelter Cymru's helpline runs 9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday; outside those hours look for your council's out-of-hours number on its website. England, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules: see their clocks
Checked 9 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Housing (Wales) Act 2014, section 68)
Scotland: your council must give you somewhere to stay while it decidesNo waiting time for tonight. mygov.scot says the council must provide temporary accommodation if you need it, and the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 says that if the council has reason to believe you may be homeless it must secure accommodation for you while it decides.Scotland
- How long
- No waiting time for tonight. mygov.scot says the council must provide temporary accommodation if you need it, and the Housing (Scotland) Act 1987 says that if the council has reason to believe you may be homeless it must secure accommodation for you while it decides. That duty applies whatever your local connection with its area, and a Scottish council cannot send you to another Scottish council for having no local connection. Once you have asked for a review, the duty lasts until the council tells you the review decision. If you disagree with a decision, ask for a review within 21 days, counting the day you are told the decision as day 1, or longer if the council allows
- Starts
- the day you have nowhere safe to stay, or think you may soon have none: contact a council that day. You can be homeless without sleeping outside, for example if you are staying with friends or in a hostel
- If missed
- after the 21 days the council does not have to review unless it agrees to a longer time. Ask anyway, ask for more time in writing, and get advice the same day. You get one review: there is no right to ask for a review of a review
- It lets you
- ask the council for temporary accommodation tonight and for its decision in writing. If you disagree with the decision, ask for a review: ask in writing, keep a copy, and ask Shelter Scotland or Citizens Advice Scotland to help. Once you have asked for a review, the council must keep giving you somewhere to stay until it tells you the review decision, so ask in writing and keep a copy
Where this differs: Scotland only. If the council's office is shut, look on its website for an out-of-hours number. mygov.scot also lists free 24-hour phone lines for people sleeping rough in Glasgow and Edinburgh, run by Simon Community Scotland: Glasgow 0800 027 7466, Edinburgh 0808 178 2323. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own rules: see their clocks
Checked 9 October 2026 at mygov.scot (Scottish Government)
Northern Ireland: ring the Housing Executive today, and ask for a review within 28 days if it says noNo waiting time for tonight.Northern Ireland
- How long
- No waiting time for tonight. The Housing Executive, not the council, handles homelessness in Northern Ireland: ring the Housing Executive's Homelessness Line on 03448 920 908, at any hour: in office hours it puts you through to a Housing Advisor, and after 5pm, at weekends and on holidays it is the emergency service. The general line is 03448 920 900. The Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1988 says that if the Executive has reason to believe you may be homeless and have a priority need, it must secure accommodation for you while it decides. If you disagree with a decision, ask for a review within 28 days, counting the day you are told the decision as day 1. The Housing Executive usually allows longer and its letter should give the date; if the letter gives a later date, that holds, but asking within the 28 days is always safe
- Starts
- the day you have nowhere safe to stay. nidirect says you can also count as homeless if you have been locked out of your home and are not allowed back, if you cannot stay because of the threat of violence, abuse or harassment, or if you have nowhere you can live together with your family. If you have no address, the Housing Executive may leave the letter at your local office for you to collect, so ask how it will reach you and check for it
- If missed
- after the 28 days the Executive does not have to review unless it agrees in writing to a longer time, so ask anyway and ask for more time in writing
- It lets you
- have an interview and an assessment of your situation, advice that is free to everyone and, depending on your circumstances, somewhere to stay. If the Executive says no or offers a place you cannot use, ask for a review: ask in writing, keep a copy, and call Housing Rights. When you ask for the review, ask in the same letter or email for the Housing Executive to keep you housed until the review is decided. Your place can end when the Housing Executive tells you its decision, whether or not you ask for a review: asking does not end it. The law lets the Housing Executive keep you housed, so ask in writing, and if it says no, call Housing Rights that day
Where this differs: Northern Ireland only. The law gives 28 days; Housing Rights says the Housing Executive in practice allows 40, and its letter should give the date. Follow the letter if it gives a later date, and if you are unsure, ask within the 28 days. England, Scotland and Wales have their own rules: see their clocks. For a landlord's notice to quit, see the Northern Ireland clock in the eviction notice guide
Checked 9 October 2026 at nidirect (Northern Ireland Executive)
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
say: I have nowhere to sleep tonight. They can refer you to emergency housing and tell you what is open now; if they cannot place you, ask what else is open
Call 211 · 24/7 in most areas
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- a few facts about your current living situation
- any income you have
- the children or other dependents who live with you
They may ask
- about your current living situation
- about any income you have
- about any children or other dependents who live with you
They can
- connect you to local help with rent, mortgage, utilities, food and health care
- talk to you by phone; some local 211s also offer text and web chat, so check yours
- use 180 languages on request
- keep the call confidential, and it can be anonymous
- give you other ideas if you do not qualify for one program: you can call again
They cannot
- give you money themselves: 211 is the number for information and referrals to services
- help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first if you or someone you love is in one or may be a danger to someone else
National Domestic Violence Hotline
if you are leaving an abusive home, call first: advocates can help you plan your safety and point you to shelters, and they will not tell you what to do
Call 1-800-799-7233 · Text Text START to 88788 · 24/7
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- put you through to a live advocate by phone (1-800-799-7233), chat, or text START to 88788; message and data rates may apply
- give support, crisis intervention, education about domestic violence, and community resources and referrals
- point you to local providers, including shelters and legal help, and to other lines: StrongHearts for Native Americans and Alaska Natives (844.762.8483) and a video phone line for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (855.812.1001)
They cannot
- give direct financial help such as cash support, hotel vouchers or transportation vouchers: the Hotline says it can connect you with community resources that may support these needs
for a young person on their own: talk to a crisis counselor any time, and ask about the Home Free program for a safe ride to a known adult or a safe place
Call 1-800-786-2929 · 24/7
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with a trained crisis counselor by phone (1-800-786-2929), text to the same number, live chat or email, free and confidential, available 24/7
- listen, help you explore your options and help you make a plan to stay safe
- help you search a database of local and national youth resources, such as housing, counseling and legal aid
- through the Home Free program, help a young person aged 12 to 21 return safely to a confirmed known adult or an available safe place, at no cost to the young person: call to get started
They cannot
- promise an immediate solution: the site says it cannot guarantee one, only that it will try to help you improve your situation
- answer the forum in real time: the forum is not monitored in real time and is not for emergencies
Email is answered as soon as possible, but the hotline or live chat may connect you faster. School email accounts may not get a reply: use a personal one if you can.
National Call Center for Homeless Veterans
if you are a veteran, or helping one: a VA counselor at any hour
Call 1-877-424-3838 · 24/7
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- a few questions to understand your situation, so the counselor can identify urgent needs
They can
- put you through to a trained VA counselor at 1-877-424-3838 at any hour, or by online chat at any hour, free and confidential
- help you find housing support or VA services near you, and connect you with local VA staff if you need ongoing help
- talk with Veterans who are homeless or about to lose housing, and with family or friends helping a Veteran
- point you to your local VA Medical Center, where you can call or visit and ask for a Homeless Coordinator
They cannot
- replace the Veterans Crisis Line: for thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, call or text 988 and press 1; in immediate danger, call 911
In the United Kingdom
housing advice in England if you have nowhere to stay tonight: weekdays only, advice not beds, so call your council for tonight
Call 0808 800 4444 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Closed weekends and bank holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you need an interpreter, the language you need: tell your adviser at the start, and they can get an interpreter on the call, which takes a few minutes
They can
- give you advice if you are homeless, have nowhere to stay tonight, are at risk of abuse or harm at home, or are worried about losing your home in the next 2 months
- help through webchat, or by textphone or an app through Relay UK, if you are deaf or have a speech impairment
They cannot
- provide accommodation: they give advice only
- advise outside England: Shelter England advises on English housing law only, and points to Shelter Scotland and Shelter Cymru
- answer weekends or bank holidays: the helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
The helpline is in high demand and you might wait over an hour at busy times. Your call will be answered unless you are still in the queue at 5pm, when the service closes. Try again if you cannot get through.
the same help in Wales, weekdays only: call your council first for tonight
Call 08000 495 495 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give housing advice on the urgent helpline, 08000 495 495, 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday
- chat with an adviser through webchat, or point you to an advice centre near you
- point you to its advice pages on homelessness and sleeping rough, and its housing advice for people under 25
They cannot
- give you a bed: Shelter Cymru says it does not have any shelters or kitchens for people who are street homeless
- answer outside 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday
The site warns of a high volume of calls and chats and a possible delay in reply. Try again if you cannot get through, and use the website's housing advice pages meanwhile.
the same help in Scotland, weekdays only: call your council first for tonight
Call 0808 800 4444 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on bank holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you need an interpreter, tell the adviser at the start of your call; for a British Sign Language interpreter, use Contact Scotland BSL
They can
- give you advice on your rights and options if you are homeless or about to become homeless, you are being evicted or forced out of your home, or the council has refused to help
- give advice if you have nowhere safe to stay, are sofa surfing, or you or someone you live with is vulnerable
- offer online chat if you have more questions
They cannot
- offer accommodation
- help if you are not in Scotland: Shelter Scotland sends people in England or Wales to Shelter England or Shelter Cymru
- answer on bank holidays: the helpline is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and closed on bank holidays
They cannot always answer right away. Check their housing advice pages while you wait. Calls are free from UK landlines and most mobile networks.
Simon Community Scotland (rough sleeping helplines, Glasgow and Edinburgh)
if you are sleeping rough in Glasgow (0800 027 7466) or Edinburgh (0808 178 2323): free, at any hour
Call 0800 027 7466 · 24 hours a day
StreetLink (England and Wales)
if the council cannot place you tonight in England or Wales: use 'Get help for yourself' to be put in touch with local outreach services
Northern Ireland Housing Executive (homelessness)
in Northern Ireland this is the door for tonight, in and out of office hours
Call 03448 920 908 · Homelessness line in normal working hours, plus an emergency out-of-hours service after 5pm, at weekends and on bank holidays
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- about your situation, in a housing solutions interview and homeless assessment with a Housing Advisor
They can
- put you through to a Housing Advisor in your local office in normal working hours, who looks at your housing options and any need for temporary accommodation
- give you advice about homelessness free: the Housing Executive must make sure it is available free to everyone
- help out of hours, after 5pm, at weekends and on bank holidays, if you have nowhere safe to stay and need emergency accommodation
They cannot
- promise you somewhere to stay: they might need to offer you somewhere, but that depends on your circumstances
Housing Rights (Northern Ireland)
free housing advice in Northern Ireland, weekdays: call after the Housing Executive gives you a decision
Call 028 9024 5640 · 9.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- speak to a housing adviser on 028 9024 5640, Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm, if you live in Northern Ireland and need housing advice
- chat online with the helpline advisers, using the pop-up on the site; if they are not available they get back to you by email
- take your housing problem through an online form, and get back to you by email
- help solve disputes in private rented tenancies with their Housing Mediation Service
They cannot
- give advice through the general contact form: that form is for general, non-advice queries only, and advice goes through the helpline, chat or advice form
- see you at their Belfast office without notice: call first to make an appointment
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (Refuge)
if you are leaving an abusive home and are in England: 24 hours a day. In Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, use your own nation's line, next
Call 0808 2000 247 · 24 hours a day
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you think someone might be monitoring your devices, the site says to leave it and visit from a safe device
They can
- talk with you in confidence, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on 0808 2000 247, free, or through live chat
- talk about domestic abuse, safety planning, advice and support, in many different languages
- help you find a refuge place or other specialist services
- offer a British Sign Language service, 10am to 6pm Monday to Friday
They cannot
- help you directly to get a non-molestation order: the site says it offers signposting, and points to Rights of Women for advice and support on that
- replace 999: if you are in an emergency, call 999
if you are a man, or trans or non-binary, and you are leaving an abusive home: phone Monday to Friday 10am to 5pm. It is not a 24-hour line, so use the 999 or housing numbers above for tonight.
Call 0808 8010327 · Phone Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm. Webchat Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- nothing is needed: you do not have to give your name, date of birth or address, or prove anything
They may ask
- a few questions about your situation and your level of risk, so they can help with a safety plan. You can say you are not ready to answer.
- at the end, some optional monitoring questions for their funders, such as your age and which local authority you live in. You cannot be identified by your answers.
They can
- listen without judgement and give practical advice and information
- point you to services for legal advice, child contact, counselling and housing
- give you about 30 minutes, and more if you need it
- get you an interpreter by phone, or talk through Relay UK
- move your call to another adviser if you ask for an adviser of a different gender, if one is available
They cannot
- give legal advice: advisers can give legal information and point you to services that give advice
- take a call outside Monday to Friday, 10am to 5pm, or webchat outside Monday to Friday, 9am to 10am
You might wait in a queue and can stay on the line as long as you like. If you do not want to queue, the site says you can email the helpline or use webchat in its opening hours. On webchat, try to reply within 2 minutes.
if you are leaving an abusive home in Wales, at any hour
Call 0808 80 10 800 · Text Text 07860077333 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give free advice and support, or talk through your options, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by phone on 0808 80 10 800 (calls are welcomed in Welsh), text on 07860077333, live chat or email
- help anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or sexual violence, and people who know someone who needs help
- keep your conversations confidential: the site says staff are highly experienced and fully trained
Scotland's Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
if you are leaving an abusive home in Scotland, at any hour
Call 0800 027 1234 · Text Text / WhatsApp: 07401288595 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with you in confidence, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 027 1234; you can also text or use WhatsApp on 07401288595, use online chat or email
- listen and believe you, give information, direct you to agencies that may help, give emotional support and offer crisis intervention in emergencies
- give practical support, including housing support, and information on accommodation and housing options and refuge
- use a confidential interpreting service: you may be asked to hold, or be called back, while an interpreter is arranged; Relay UK and British Sign Language through Contact Scotland BSL are also available
They cannot
- replace 999: the site says if you are in immediate danger, phone 999
Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline (Northern Ireland)
if you are leaving an abusive home in Northern Ireland and are 18 or over, at any hour. If you are under 18, call Childline on 0800 1111, or 999 if you are in danger
Call 0808 802 1414 · 24/7, 365 days a year
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with trained helpline staff, free and confidential, 24/7, 365 days a year, on 0808 802 1414, or by email (help@dsahelpline.org) or live chat
- give you information and guidance that fits your own circumstances
They cannot
- help anyone under 18: the site says the helpline is for anyone aged 18 and over
- replace 999: the site says if you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999
if you are a young person: talk to a counsellor at any hour, free, and it will not show on a phone bill
Call 0800 1111 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- talk with a counsellor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, on 0800 1111 or by 1-2-1 online chat; you can talk about anything, big or small
- take your call free from most landlines and mobiles in the UK: the call will not show on a phone bill, and you can call even if you have no credit
- help deaf young people through 1-2-1 chat or email to a counsellor, or British Sign Language through an interpreter (SignVideo, Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm and Saturday 8am to 1pm)
- help you, if you are under 18, report a sexual picture or video of yourself and get it removed from the internet, with Report Remove, run with the Internet Watch Foundation
They cannot
- take more than 10 calls in 24 hours from a single phone number: the site says a limit applies
- replace 999: the site says in an emergency you should always call 999
At night it can take longer to get through on chat, and calls may be shorter than usual. If it is difficult to get through and you need urgent help, call 999.
Civil Legal Advice (legal aid, England and Wales)
free legal aid by phone in England and Wales, if you are eligible, if a council has said no to you
Call 0345 345 4345 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm. Saturday, 9am to 12:30pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- recent payslips, if you are working
- bank statements
- details of any savings and investments you have
- details of any benefits you get
- mortgage statements and a current valuation for any property you own
They may ask
- you to explain your problem and give proof of your finances, so they can confirm you are eligible
They can
- put you through to a legal adviser if it sounds like you are eligible
- call you back if you do not want to pay for the call
- give you a free interpreter, including British Sign Language
- take Relay UK calls: 18001 then 0345 345 4345
They cannot
- help everyone: you have to be eligible for legal aid, and the adviser decides what advice you can get
- give you free calls: you may be charged for the call unless you ask them to call you back
- answer outside Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 12:30pm
Universal Credit helpline (GOV.UK)
claim Universal Credit by phone if you cannot claim online. If you already get Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, get advice first: claiming ends them. In Northern Ireland, Universal Credit is claimed through nidirect
Call 0800 328 5644 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
- identity documents, for example a driving licence, passport, debit or credit card, or payslip or P60
- information about your housing, such as how much rent you pay, and your earnings, such as payslips
- your National Insurance number, if you have one
- details of other benefits you get, any disability or health condition that affects your work, childcare costs if you want help with them, and your savings and investments
They can
- take a Universal Credit claim by phone if you cannot claim online
- give you help with your claim: the page says you can call the helpline or use the Help to Claim service
- take calls in Welsh on 0800 328 1744 and Relay UK calls on 18001 then 0800 328 5644
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- take a claim if you live in Northern Ireland: GOV.UK sends you to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland
- let one partner claim alone if you live together: you will both need to create accounts and link them
- keep a claim open without limit: you must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again
if there is no food tonight: find your nearest food bank; you will need a voucher from a local organisation first
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- how many adults and children the parcel is for, and the ages of any children: volunteers check these from your voucher
- any dietary requirements: say so when you get your voucher so the food bank can prepare
They may ask
- the community organisation that gives you a voucher asks about your individual needs, so it can help you find the right support
They can
- help you find your nearest food bank
- give an emergency food parcel with at least three days of meals once you have a food voucher from a local community organisation
- sometimes provide pet food and essentials such as toiletries and period products, where they can
- sometimes offer extra support, such as debt advice or a trained Citizens Advice adviser
- sometimes deliver food parcels: ask when you get your voucher, or contact the food bank
They cannot
- give you a parcel without a food voucher: you need a referral first
- usually give you a voucher online: you will usually need to contact a community organisation by phone or in person, and in some cases the food bank directly
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
Hello. I have nowhere safe to sleep tonight. I am in [town or zip code]. [I have children with me / I am a veteran / I am under 18.] Which shelter or emergency housing has a bed open tonight? If none is open, what else is open tonight, and what should I do tomorrow morning?
Hello. I have nowhere to stay tonight and I am asking for your help as a homeless person. Could you find me somewhere to stay tonight while you look at my case? Could you give me your name, put what you decide in writing, and tell me your out-of-hours number?
Hello. My family has lost our housing and we are staying [with another family / in a motel / in a shelter / in a car]. I would like my child enrolled today. Could you give me the name and number of the district's homeless liaison? If you need papers I do not have, please enrol my child anyway.
Hello. I received your decision dated [date] about my homeless application. I would like to ask for a review of it. Please confirm in writing that you have this request, and the date I will hear back by. Please also keep me housed while it is reviewed. I am getting advice.
Not for you if…
This guide is for a person with nowhere safe to sleep tonight, in the US or the UK. It is not for someone leaving an abusive home: call the National Domestic Violence Hotline in the US, or the domestic abuse helpline for your nation in the UK, listed under Who to call, before anything else on this page: they can plan your safety and point you to a refuge, and the housing steps come after. It is not for someone who still has a home but has been given a notice or court papers: see the guide 'I got an eviction notice or court papers'. It is not for someone who has been told by a parent or family to leave: see the library page 'My parents told me to leave home: who do I call first?' as well as the young-person lines above. If you were made homeless by a fire, flood or storm, say so on every call: it can change what help you get. If you are from abroad and worried that your immigration status may stop you getting help, do not assume the answer is no: talk to Shelter, Housing Rights or a legal aid adviser as soon as they are open, and tonight still ask 211, or in the UK the council, what is open. If a council or the Housing Executive turns you down, or hands you a decision letter, take it the same day to Shelter, Housing Rights, Civil Legal Advice or a legal aid office: the date for a review starts on the date of the letter. The rules differ by state and nation, and the only clocks this page gives for the US are federal ones.
A different emergency? Account frozen or closed · Benefits stopped · A car accident · Suspended or excluded from school · Debt collector or court papers · Eviction notice · Flood, fire or storm · Unsafe home · Hurt at work · Paid a scammer · Lost my job · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · Shutoff notice · Someone died · Someone is missing · A tax bill · Told to leave home
From the library
I'm sleeping in my car — how do I stay safe and get help?
My parents have told me to leave home — who do I call first?