Skip to content
Feedback button

What to expect when you ask for homeless assistance


What we will do

If you are eligible for our service, we will: 

  • assess your housing circumstances
  • investigate your circumstances to find out how we can help you
  • deal sensitively with your situation

We will ask you to provide:

  • ID for your household
  • contact details of the person asking you to leave (if relevant).

The easiest way to provide your documents is to take a photo and upload them to your Jigsaw Customer Portal.

The assessment can take around one hour.

Creating a personal housing plan

We will make a ‘personal housing plan’ which will agree:

  • what we can do to help you
  • what you can do to help yourself

The plan might include things like:

  • helping you work out what rent you can afford
  • help with rent in advance and deposit
  • visiting letting agents

Keeping in contact

Please make sure that you keep in touch with us about any changes.

Emergency accommodation

Emergency accommodation will always be a last resort. We only secure accommodation for households in a ‘priority need’ category. We will help you to move-on to your own home.

Emergency accommodation charges

If we have accommodated you in a hotel or Bed & Breakfast such as a Travelodge, you should have recently received a letter. This letter explains that we have a new system for paying your rent and service charge. We have brought in a new system, which will allow you to see online how much you need to pay for your accommodation. The system will also allow you to pay the charges over the phone, online and via Paypoint. If you have any questions about this please email us on TARent@cornwall.gov.uk

If you are still homeless after 56 days

We will make a decision on your homelessness application. You have a right of review for most decisions that are issued to you. Please refer to the guide to homelessness reviews.

Need help?

Most issues can be resolved online, it's the quickest and most convenient way to get help.

Use our contact us form