Duty to refer

Report homelessness to Newcastle City Council if you think someone is homeless or might become homeless and find out how to get emergency housing advice.

Refer someone as homeless to the Council

Some public services must tell councils if they think someone is homeless or might become homeless. This is called the duty to refer.

In Newcastle, this duty adds to the work we already do through Active Inclusion Newcastle. We have local agreements, like our Hospital Discharge Protocol, which helps make sure people don’t become homeless when they leave hospital.

Partners should still use the Newcastle Gateway to refer people to housing and support services. This has been in place since 2010.

Make a referral

To make a referral to Newcastle City Council:

We aim to respond to referrals within one to three working days and will contact the resident directly using the details that you have provided.

Emergency housing advice

If a individual has nowhere to stay that night or are likely to become homeless in the next 48 hours, contact the Housing Advise Centre directly. Do not use the make a referral form if emergency support is needed, use the number below.

If you have nowhere to stay tonight, contact the Housing Advice Centre. You can speak to an out of hours call handler when the HAC is closed

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