Local connection

A local connection means you have links to a council area because you:

  • have lived in the area for 6 out of the last 12 months, or 3 out of the last 5 years
  • have immediate family living in the area for over 5 years
  • are employed in the area
  • receive care leaver support in the area
  • have lived in asylum support housing in the area. 

We will check your local connection if you ask us for help with homelessness.

If you have a local connection to more than one area, you should ask for help in the area you'd like to live.

If you do not have a local connection, you can still ask for help from any council you choose. 

If you do not have a local connection to Medway

We may refer you to another council if you do not have a local connection to Medway.

We'll only do this if:

  • you do not have a local connection with us
  • you have a local connection elsewhere
  • you're not at risk of domestic abuse in the other area.

Find out more

Find out more about local connection and what it means for you on the Shelter website.