We will arrange for you to have an homeless assessment interview with a trained officer, with either our Assessment or Prevention Team. Our staff are fully trained to offer all information and advice you may need. Our services are free, confidential, professional and understanding.

Your interview should take around an hour depending on your circumstances. When you come for your interview, we can:

• Offer you a private interview
• Provide an interpreter, sign-language service, or make other reasonable adjustments if required
• Offer you an interview with a Caseworker of the same sex
• Discuss if you need temporary accommodation

We will also assess any support needs you may have, and will refer you to help and support if needed.

What you need to bring

Please bring as much information as possible about your situation to the interview. This includes any relevant documentation or evidence.

You should bring the following information:

• Identification for whole family - such as a passport, birth certificate or driving licence
• Your National Insurance Number
• Proof of income and Benefit award letters
• Current telephone number and email address
• Five year address history
• Proof of access arrangements for children

An interview with our Assessment Team helps us decide whether you:

• Are legally considered homeless or at risk of becoming homeless within 2 months
• Have not deliberately acted in a way that has caused you to be homeless
• Have a local connection to the area if presenting from outside Scotland

If you have no connection to the Falkirk area but a strong local connection to another local authority is identified, the case may be referred to that authority for assistance.

However, if there is no connection, support and guidance will be provided based on your circumstances and legal entitlements. 

If you have acted in a way that has caused you to be homeless, we may find you to be intentionally homeless. This would usually be if:

• You lost your home through your own actions, for example, not paying your rent or mortgage
• You chose to leave your home
• You were aware your actions would make your homeless

If we decide you are intentionally homeless, you will not be awarded Band 1 Home Seeker status for applying for properties. We will provide you with advice and assistance to help you find somewhere else to live.

How long will the assessment and decision take?

We aim to assess your situation within 28 days of the date of your application, if you have provided all the necessary information to us. We will let you know, either by letter or email, what our duties are towards you under homeless legislation.

If you do not agree with your assessment decision, believe your temporary accommodation is unsuitable or if you have been offered secure/permanent accommodation and do not wish to proceed, you have a legal right to a review.