Homelessness help for families

This is a web version of our Homelessness help for families factsheet (PDF, 193.78 KB).

The information on this page was correct at the time of publication (18 May 2026).

This advice sheet can be used by anyone who supports families in Enfield. For example: advisors in schools, community and voluntary groups.

Please encourage families to get help as soon as they can. They must not wait until they are homeless.

What homelessness help does Enfield Council offer?

• We give free advice on our website, by phone, by email and (by appointment only) at our offices
• We have a free anonymous self-help tool. It has information and advice about a variety of housing and homelessness topics.
• We support people who are ‘homeless’ or ‘threatened with homelessness’. Also, residents must be at least 18 years old to make a homelessness application to us.
• We could refer residents to employment and life skills support to increase their income and avoid becoming homeless
• Our statutory duties and responsibilities – and a person’s circumstances – determine if we can help them and the support we can offer
• If we decide we have a legal duty to house a resident, we will offer them housing support. However, they might live in basic hostel-like accommodation before moving to a more settled home.

How you could help families at risk of becoming homeless

1. Ask about their circumstances. This will help you understand what’s causing them to be at risk of homelessness (for example: money problems, health, family or relationship breakdown, eviction...).
2. After you understand the possible causes of their homelessness, you can help them to use our free online advice tool
3. Our online advice tool (above) has information on evictions, money problems and other topics. For evictions advice, residents can also search our website.
4. For debt, money and other financial support, residents can check our cost-of-living pages
5. You can also help families check they are claiming all the benefits they are entitled to. A good place to start is GOV.UK – Benefits calculators.

Example queries from residents

‘My landlord wants to increase the rent, what can I do?’

Check your landlord has followed the correct procedure for the rent increase and the notice they’ve given.

If the notice and rent increase are legal – and you cannot pay the extra rent – you should search for somewhere else you can afford to rent.

‘If I become homeless, will my family and I get a council home?’

Residents who want social housing must meet the criteria outlined in the Enfield Council Housing Allocations policy.

Being homeless does not mean you will automatically get social housing.

If we have a statutory duty to provide you with housing support, the home we offer will likely be private-rented accommodation.

Also, you will only get one offer of suitable housing from us. This is explained in our placement policy for homeless households.

‘What can I do if my homelessness caseworker is not replying to me?’

If your housing officer (homelessness caseworker) does not call back or respond to a message within 5 working days, please contact their manager. Their manager’s details should be in your housing officer’s email signature and/or their out-of-office message.

If you do not get a reply from your housing officer or their manager, please email housingadviceservice@enfield.gov.uk.

‘Why is the council offering homes outside of Enfield?’

For people on a low income, rents in Enfield could be unaffordable. To rent a home they can afford, they might have to move away from Enfield and London. This is explained in the council’s housing placement policy for homeless households.

Other ways you can help families

Money, debt and cost of living

• Use a benefits calculator to check the family is claiming all the benefits they’re entitled to.
• Residents can also search our website for debt advice and cost-of-living support. Our website has information about food pantries, help with energy bills, and more.

Private homes for rent

• Waiting until they are evicted, or otherwise made homeless, means the family will have less choice over where they live
• If they cannot afford their rent – or they are being legally evicted – they must find another home before they are homeless
• They can search property websites or contact a local estate agent. Also – if they cannot afford Enfield’s rents – they must be ready to consider other places they could move to.
• The council has a ‘Find your own home scheme’. Homes can be anywhere in the UK. The council could pay the deposit and rent in advance or an incentive to the landlord. However, this scheme is only for people Enfield Council has a confirmed legal duty to offer housing support.
• Also, the council cannot be a guarantor

How residents can contact Enfield Council for free housing advice and homelessness help

Our normal office hours are 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday. (We are closed on bank holidays and at weekends.)

• For homelessness help, please ask residents you are supporting to check our Homelessness pages before phoning or emailing us
• Email: housingadviceservice@enfield.gov.uk
• Phone (for people who are suddenly homeless and need advice): 020 3821 1769. When our office is closed, residents can phone our out-of-hours phone number: 020 8379 1000.
• In-person at our office (but only if we have agreed an in-person appointment with the resident)
• Free interactive tool with anonymous advice

Other ways families and children in Enfield can get support

• Family hubs: Enfield has family hubs across the borough. Parents and carers can take part in free activities, and get in-person advice.
• Enfield Early Help Directory 4 All is a portal for finding services, voluntary groups, and other support for children, young people and families
• Start of Life is a service and programme for new parents, babies and young children in Enfield
• Enfield Parenting Directory has information, advice and services for parents and carers

References and further advice

Homelessness advice

• Free anonymous self-help tool. It has information on eviction, social housing and a wide range of housing topics.
• Avoiding homelessness
• What happens if you become homeless
• Help if you’re homeless or at risk of homelessness
• Visit Shelter or call freephone 0808 800 4444
• Enfield Voluntary Action’s list of local charities

Council’s statutory homelessness duties

• Homelessness code of guidance for local authorities

Council’s housing policies and criteria

• Enfield Council’s housing placement policy for homeless households
• Social housing criteria: Enfield Council Housing Allocation Scheme (PDF, 489.1 KB)

Paying your rent, rent increases, and arrears

• Cost-of-living support including help to pay bills and housing costs
• Help with housing costs: Housing Payments (formerly DHP)
• Housing advice for private renters
• Rent increases (Shelter)
• Get help to pay your rent (Citizens Advice)

Claiming welfare benefits

• Get help and advice about benefits (MoneyHelper)
• Check what benefits you can get (Citizens Advice)
• Benefits calculators (GOV.UK)

Benefit cap

• Check if you are affected by the benefit cap (Turn2us)
• Benefit cap exceptions (GOV.UK)

Debt, bills and childcare costs

• Get help with debt or paying bills
• Breathing space debt respite (rent arrears) (GOV.UK)
• For free debt advice, visit National Debtline or call 0808 808 4000
• Dealing with debt (MoneyHelper)
• Get help with childcare costs (GOV.UK)

Tenancies and evictions

• Tenancy status checker (Shelter)
• Private renting tenancy agreements (GOV.UK)
• Eviction (Shelter)
• Private tenants’ guide to the Renters’ Rights Act (GOV.UK)

Finding an affordable home to rent or buy

• Enfield Council’s ‘Find your own home scheme’
• How to find a property to rent
• Rent-to-buy (GOV.UK)
• Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates (GOV.UK)
• Affordable home ownership schemes (GOV.UK)

Local family and children services in Enfield

• Enfield’s Family Hubs and activities timetable
• Enfield’s Early Help Directory 4 All
• Start for Life (Enfield)
• Enfield Parenting Directory