Homelessness Support in Bassetlaw
If you are homeless now, or you are at risk of losing your home, Bassetlaw District Council can provide help and support.
You can contact us in the following ways:
- Visit any of our local council offices at Retford, Harworth or Worksop. Details can be found on our 'Contact and Find Us' page.
- Call: 01909 533533 and ask to speak to a Housing Options Officer.
- Submit an online enquiry
- Email: housing.needs@bassetlaw.gov.uk
Our services are designed to meet the needs of any person who has reason to believe that they may be homeless or threatened with homelessness and will be homeless within 56 days, or has been served a Section 21 Notice.
If You Are Sleeping Rough
If you tell us you are currently sleeping rough, the Housing Needs Team will contact you the same day to discuss what immediate assistance may be available.
If you have accommodation but are at risk of becoming homeless, a member of the team will contact you within two weeks, depending on your circumstances. Every case is assessed individually.
How to Help Someone Who Is Sleeping Rough
You can report concerns about someone sleeping rough using:
- The Council’s online form
- Framework Street Outreach Team: 0800 066 5356 (free from landlines and mobiles)
- StreetLink website: make an online report to connect rough sleepers with local outreach teams StreetLink - Connecting people sleeping rough to local services
- Donate food to local food banks or donation points in supermarkets
- Donate clothes, furniture or household items to local charities
What Happens When You Approach Us for Help
If we have reason to believe that you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, a Triage Officer will carry out an initial assessment. This officer will remain your point of contact until your case is allocated to a Housing Needs Officer.
What advice will the council provide?
The Council will provide advice and information on all matters relating to housing and homelessness with the aim of preventing you from becoming homeless, or relieving homelessness including:
- rights to benefits and how to make claims
- legal right to occupy a property
- validity of section 21 notices/notices seeking possession
- disrepair and landlord harassment
- application for social housing, supported housing or accommodation in the private rented sector
- advising on rent and mortgage arrears
- managing debt
- rights to grants available for repairs/adaptations
- relationship breakdown
- domestic violence/threats/intimidation/anti-social behaviour
Documents We May Ask For
During triage, we may ask you to provide supporting information. You will normally have one week to supply this. Examples include:
- Proof of ID, National Insurance number, and your current or last settled address
- Bank statements and evidence of income
- Documents explaining why you are homeless (e.g., eviction notice)
- Relevant medical information
- Contact details for any organisations supporting you
- A completed social housing application
- Your tenancy agreement and any legal documents related to your tenancy
- A completed data declaration form
Once all required documents have been provided, your case will be allocated to a Housing Options Officer, who will work with you and any support agencies to prevent or resolve your homelessness.
At this stage, a full homelessness application will be completed. You will receive:
- a Personalised Housing Plan (PHP), and
- information about any duties BDC owes to you under homelessness law.
Contact Hours
The Housing Needs Team is available Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm
For urgent assistance outside of these hours, please contact our Out of Hours Service on: 0800 590542.
SWEP – Severe Weather Emergency Provision
SWEP provides extra emergency accommodation when severe weather poses a danger to people sleeping rough.
If you are rough sleeping during SWEP activation:
- You can attend the Salvation Army in Worksop up until 10:00pm, where a risk assessment and service agreement will be completed on arrival.
- Bassetlaw District Council will announce SWEP activation through our communication channels and partner agencies.
- No referral before 4:00pm is required - you can present directly while SWEP is in operation.
For further information on homelessness please visit Shelter’s website.
Last Updated on Thursday, February 26, 2026
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