Homelessness support and advice
Help rough sleepers
If you see someone bedding down or sleeping rough, please let us know by:
- using the Street Link website
- or calling our Housing Advice Team on 01993 861000
Help and advice for the homeless or those at risk of homelessness
If you are homeless or threatened with homelessness, contact us as soon as possible for an appointment to see a housing adviser. Depending on your circumstances we may be able to:
- permanently house you as a result of homelessness
- provide temporary accommodation or
- offer advice and assistance.
If you are threatened with homelessness we will need to check that you:
- qualify for assistance
- are in priority need
- are not intentionally homeless
- have a local connection with West Oxfordshire.
If there aren't any suitable temporary houses available, we may house you in temporary bed and breakfast accommodation.
Ask us for help with homelessnessOut of hours assistance
If accommodation is needed in an emergency outside of office hours please:
- Call our mainline number 01993 861000
Duty to Refer – Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
Advice for public authorities
If you are a public authority specified within the legislation, or any other organisation wishing to make a referral to West Oxfordshire District Council please:
For technical issues and queries, please contact the ALERT support team:
- by phoning 01962 851747 or
- by emailing support@npsservice.org.uk
The five Oxfordshire housing authorities, in partnership with the Oxfordshire Trailblazer Champions’ Network, have developed a county-wide procedure to support the new duty. When making referrals, partners are expected to consult and follow this procedure and the principles of the local agreement within it. This will help realise the true potential of the new duty for the people of Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire Duty To Refer Procedure 2018 - pdf - 340 Kb
Our Preventing Homelessness Strategy
West Oxfordshire District Council have adopted a new Preventing Homelessness Strategy for 2025-2028.
In developing this strategy, West Oxfordshire District Council has reviewed the key issues that are driving up homelessness both locally and nationally which has informed the focus of the strategy to the following four objectives:
- Priority 1 - Preventing Homelessness
- Priority 2 - Establishing effective partnerships and working arrangements.
- Priority 3 - Supporting rough sleepers to address their housing and other needs.
- Priority 4 - Increasing Accommodation Options
These priorities are intended to be high level and therefore the strategy will be sufficiently flexible to accommodate and respond to changes in the external environment during its lifetime.
The council will monitor progress via the Preventing Homelessness Strategy Action Plan.
You can read both the Strategy and the Action Plan below.