Article: Homelessness and Emergency Accommodation Article Body Homelessness advice and prevention We offer a free, confidential and impartial housing advice service with specially trained housing advisers for a wide range of housing issues. We also want to prevent homelessness by getting involved as soon as possible to help you remain in your home so we offer a homelessness prevention service and can carry out a housing options assessment if we are unable to prevent homelessness. The Council has legal obligations to homeless people and because the laws relating to homelessness can be complicated we can provide you with detailed information about this when you contact us. We will be truthful, supportive, sensitive to your situation, treat you courteously and with respect. We ask that you apply these same standards towards our advisers. The service aims to: prevent homelessness where possible deal with applications and enquires as efficiently and effectively as possible treat all customers with the highest level of customer care deliver consistently good service work with other agencies to resolve homelessness How to contact us If you need housing advice, homeless prevention or any issue regarding homelessness please contact the service by: Telephone on 01226 773870 office hours (08:45-17:00) lines may become busy, please be patient " or 08449841800 (low cost call) for out of hours homelessness emergencies In person at the Barnsley Connects Offices a list of these are available here barnsley connects offices Or by email at housingadvice@barnsley.gov.uk If you have nowhere to sleep tonight you should try to contact us in person and if possible bring with you proof of your identity, proof of your income and proof of child benefit if you have children. Cold Weather Arrangements We can offer special help to rough sleepers in the winter if the weather is continually cold. Please contact us for more information. Emergency Accommodation After you make a homeless application we will establish if you are: Homeless Eligible for assistance In priority need Each of these has a special legal meaning which we will explain in detail when you contact us. If you meet all these criteria we will arrange emergency accommodation while we complete enquiries to be satisfied that you are not intentionally homeless and that you have a local connection with Barnsley. We have access to emergency supported housing for homeless households.