Organisations that can help when you’re homeless

Get help if you are homeless or struggling with issues that may lead to homelessness, such as bereavement, mental health issues, and relationship breakdowns.

Get help if you have nowhere to stay

Day or night, contact the council if you have nowhere safe to stay.

You should be given accommodation on the day you need it.

The council must help if you are homeless or likely to become homeless in the next two months.

Get help from the council

Homeless support

Aberdeen Cyrenians

Homelessness services and advice in the Aberdeen area.

www.aberdeen-cyrenians.org

Bethany Christian Trust

Accommodation, support and street work in the Edinburgh area.

www.bethanychristiantrust.com

Council housing departments

Each council must provide advice and information about homelessness and how to prevent it.

If you're applying to the council as homeless, you should put your name on the council housing waiting list at the same time. You will need to make a separate application to do this.

More information about council housing

Edinburgh Cyrenians

Homelessness services and advice in the Edinburgh area.

www.cyrenians.scot

Edinburgh Street Support Network

Connecting people and organisations locally to tackle homelessness in Edinburgh.

www.streetsupport.net/edinburgh

Four Square/Edinburgh Furniture Initiative

Four Square (Scotland) is involved with the rights and needs of homeless people in Edinburgh and the Lothians and other areas of Scotland. Services include advice and advocacy, support and accommodation, and clothing and furniture supplies.

www.foursquare.org.uk

Glasgow Simon Community

Homelessness services and advice in the Glasgow area.

www.glasgowsimon.org

Salvation Army

Homelessness services including accommodation and soup runs.

www.salvationarmy.org.uk

Streetwork

Edinburgh-based outreach team working with young people. Offers crisis support, help with health issues, and education, training and employment opportunities.

www.streetwork.org.uk

Drug and alcohol support

Frank

A free 24-hour helpline offering straightforward information on the effects and risks of drug-taking.

Call: 0800 77 66 00

www.talktofrank.com

Scottish Drug Services

An online directory of drug treatment, rehabilitation and care services in Scotland.

www.scottishdrugservices.com

Mental health support

Samaritans

Free confidential advice for people who feel depressed, desperate or suicidal.

Call: 116 123

Email: jo@samaritans.org

www.samaritans.org

SANE

Practical information and support for people who are affected by depression or any other mental health issue.

www.sane.org.uk

Abuse survivors and victim support

Rape Crisis

Advice and help for women who have undergone sexual abuse. Contact details for local centres are provided online.

www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk

Refuge

Safe houses for women and children escaping domestic violence and abuse.

Together with Women's Aid, Refuge runs the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline.

Call: 0808 2000 247

www.refuge.org.uk

Scottish Women's Aid

Support, information and a safe place to stay for women suffering from domestic abuse. The website contains contact details for your nearest women's aid group.

www.womensaid.scot

Survivors UK

Advice and help for men who have suffered from sexual abuse and rape.

Call: 0845 122 1201

www.survivorsuk.org

Victim Support Scotland

Practical help and emotional support for victims of crime.

Call: 0800 160 1985

www.victimsupport.scot

Young people’s support

ChildLine

Free, confidential 24-hour helpline offering comfort, advice and practical help to all children and young people.

Call: 0800 1111

www.childline.org.uk

The Foyer Federation

Information on foyer accommodation for young people across the UK.

www.foyer.net

YMCA Scotland

Support for young people under 25 across a range of issues, including housing, health and family.

www.ymcascotland.scot

Other support services

Citizens Advice Scotland

Free and confidential advice on issues including housing and benefits.

www.cas.org.uk

Cruse Bereavement Care

Advice, practical help and a sympathetic ear for anyone affected by death.

Call: 0808 802 6161

www.crusescotland.org.uk

Family Planning Association

Confidential advice and emergency help on contraception, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections.

Call: 0845 122 8690

www.fpa.org.uk

Internet access and printing

Cheap internet access and printing are offered by some public libraries and internet cafes.

Find a local library

Law centres

Free legal advice and representation for issues including housing and benefits, debt, discrimination and immigration law.

Find a law centre

Missing People

A free, confidential 24-hour helpline where advisers can pass on a message without telling anyone where you are.

Call: 116 000

Email: 116000@missingpeople.org.uk

www.missingpeople.org.uk

Royal British Legion

Financial, social and emotional support to those who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces and their dependents.

www.legion.scotland.org.uk

Scottish Refugee Council

Advice for asylum seekers and refugees, including a list of day centres, soup runs and drop-in centres.

www.scottishrefugeecouncil.org.uk

Social work

The council's social work department has duties to assist some people in certain circumstances. This includes:

  • people under the age of 18 in need

  • people who have been looked after by the local authority

  • people who have children in need living with them

  • people who are elderly, physically ill or have mental health problems, or are disabled

The police

The police offer help and advice if you're in danger or facing harassment and abuse. Contact the police for non-emergencies on 101.

Last updated: 20 July 2021

Housing laws differ between Scotland and England.

This content applies to Scotland only.

Get advice if you're in England