Torbay Council

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I’m sleeping on the floor/want somewhere of my own/don’t feel safe at home

If you are thinking about leaving home or need advice about housing, please get in touch with us. We can talk to you about your situation and discuss your options with you.

Living on your own

Living on your own can be hard and you should, therefore, think carefully and seek advice before you make the decision to leave home.
You will need to think about the following issues:
You can get advice about these issues from our Housing Needs Team or any of the agencies listed below.

I’m always arguing with my family

If you have been having arguments at home, we can talk to you about this and whether we can try to sort things out with your parents.
As you grow up, it’s only natural that you have arguments with your family or carers. However, if you’re having problems, moving out is not always the best option.
Try to negotiate rather than argue and see if you can both reach a compromise. If your parents are particularly adamant about certain points, ask them why rather than arguing about it and listen to their reasoning.

What help can you give me?

We can try to mediate with your family so you can return home even if only for a short while until you have looked at other options.
We can only mediate if both you and your family agree and if it is appropriate-we will not try to mediate if you have suffered violence or abuse at home.
If you do decide to leave home, we will talk to you about what housing options may be suitable for you and also whether you need support to help you live independently, either in supported accommodation or by a floating support worker visiting you in your own home. If we agree that you need support, we will put you in touch with the Referral HUB and they will refer you to supported accommodation or floating support.

What happens if my family ask me to leave or it is not safe for me to stay at home?

If you have no other choice but to leave your accommodation, you should first see whether you can stay with a friend or relative temporarily while you consider your options. If you can’t,  contact the Council's Housing Needs Service or any of the other agencies listed below. They will be able to give you information and advice.
If you are aged 16 or 17 and are homeless or are worried about becoming homeless or you do not feel safe at home, you should contact Checkpoint opens in a new window in the first instance for advice.
They will talk to you about what has been happening at home.They may try to mediate with your family if both of you agree and if they feel it is appropriate so you can return home even if only for a short time. They will not try to mediate if you have left home because of violence or abuse.

What information will I need to bring with me?

If your family has given you a letter asking you to leave, please bring this with you. We will also need a contact phone number for your relative.
For more advice, see our homeless prevention page:-my family/friends have asked me to leave

Where else can I go for advice?

You could also contact the following via the link above:
For further information visit the following sites:
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Related Websites

Related Tasks

Contact Housing Needs Service