Your Rights: are you in Priority Need?

The third issue that the law says Glasgow City Council must look at when you make a homelessness application is whether you are in priority need for accommodation.

The law says that you are in priority need for housing if you

• are 16 to 20 years old
• from October 1st, 2011, you are in priority need if you are over the age of 30
• are a pregnant woman, or usually live with a pregnant woman
• have children that normally live with you, even if they are not living with you at the moment (this also includes step-children or foster-children)
• are experiencing domestic abuse (which includes any behaviour that makes you afraid or distressed - it does not need to include actual violence)
• you are experiencing abuse because of your colour, race, religion, ethnic origin or sexual preference.

You are also considered in priority need if you are vulnerable because you

• recently left a hospital, prison or the armed forces
• are in old age
• suffer from mental ill-health
• suffer from a personality disorder
• have a physical disability
• suffer from serious ill-health
• have a learning disability
• have experienced a disaster or emergency in your previous accommodation, for example a flood or fire
• have recently suffered a miscarriage or had an abortion

You are also considered in priority need if you normally live with anyone whose circumstances are the same as the vulnerable groups above.

To be considered in priority need for accommodation, Glasgow City Council need to make sure your circumstances are the same as one or more of the circumstances above. If you are able to, take as much proof as you can as it will help the Council make the right decision.

If Glasgow City Council decide you are not in priority need and you do not agree with this decision, then you are entitled to

• the reasons for their decision
• a review of the decision.

You are also entitled to advice and assistance and temporary accommodation while a review is being carried out. The temporary accommodation must last long enough for you to find your own accommodation, if the review does not change the first decision.

If Glasgow City Council decide that you are unintentionally homeless and in priority need, then you are normally entitled to permanent accommodation in Glasgow. But in some cases, Glasgow City Council will make enquiries to decide if you have a 'local connection' to Glasgow.