Advice For Over 18’s If You Can’t Stay At Home

Sharing a home when relationships are under strain can be really difficult under normal circumstances, but especially so during this period of lockdown. In this article we take a look at what to do if you can’t stay at home, or it’s not safe for you to do so if you’re over 18.

This is part 3 of 3 in a series of articles looking at housing and relationships during Covid-19. Part 1 has tips on how to get on with the people you live with. Part 2 looks at what to do when you can’t live at home for under 18’s.

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I ddarllen yr erthygl hon yn Gymraeg, clicia yma

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If what you’re experiencing is over and above what is normal or acceptable, such as continual arguing, excessive unkindness or even abusive behaviour, you might be thinking about what you can do to get help or to change your situation.

The current lockdown means that there are fewer options in terms of changing where you live, but you can start to find out what help might be available if you feel that this is something that needs to happen. If you’re over 18, experiencing harm or abuse where you’re living, and you want help with finding alternative accommodation, you can get help from the following services and helplines:

Housing Options

Every council has a Housing Options team that can you give you housing advice and information. Call your local council.

Shelter Cymru

Shelter is a housing charity that helps prevent and reduce homelessness.

Call: 0808 178 1120

Police

If you’re in immediate danger call the police on 999. If you want to report harm or abuse then call 101.

Meic

Meic is a bilingual helpline for children and young people up to the age of 25 in Wales. Call our advisors if want to talk about anything that’s happening at home that’s causing you to be unhappy. If you tell us something that makes us worry about your safety we will help you find services that may be able to offer help in your particular circumstances.

Call: 080 880 23456        Text: 84001       Chat online: www.meic.cymru

Live Fear Free

Live Fear Free is a domestic abuse helpline for Wales.

Call: 0808 80 10 800

Be patient

Unless your housing situation is seen as an emergency that requires immediate action, it’s unlikely that you’ll be able to change where you live as quickly as you might want to. It can take weeks, sometimes months, for Housing Services to find out all the information they need to make a decision about what needs to happen next.

The above information is for young people over 18. If you’re under 18 check out our advice for you:

If you just need advice on how to get on better with the people you’re living read this: