If you’re homeless or threatened with homelessness you can contact the housing options service for advice and assistance to prevent you from becoming homeless. If you live in a caravan or mobile home, you are considered homeless if there is nowhere you are allowed to park and live in it.

The Housing Options Service provides information, assistance and advice to help you to resolve your housing situation by keeping you in your home or by helping you to find alternative accommodation. The service is free, impartial and confidential.  You can contact the service:

By telephone: 01962 848 163

By email: homelessness@winchester.gov.uk

Or in person at City Offices, Colebrook Street, Winchester. SO23 9LJ

The service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9am until 5pm (4.30pm on a Friday) and on a Wednesday from 1pm – 5pm.

The council have recently completed a Draft Traveller Development Plan to safeguard and allocate sites to meet identified traveller accommodation needs for the District.  The plan can be found here.

If you’ve been refused a pitch on a mobile home site because you are gypsy or traveller, or if you live on a mobile home site or the manager treats you worse than others on the site because you are a gypsy or traveller, this is direct race discrimination. This is unlawful and you can take action under the Equality Act. 

If you live in settled accommodation you are also protected from discrimination.  For example, if a landlord treats you badly because you are a gypsy or traveller this is discrimination and you should seek advice.  

There are a number of places you can access advice and support, please see links below:

Hampshire Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS)

EMTAS works to improve access, achievement and engagement in education. We provide a link with parents/carers and communities and provide advice and guidance on settling in, induction and transition. We help develop inclusive approaches, supporting children in school and identify opportunities to value and promote Traveller culture within the curriculum.

Address: Ethnic Minority and Traveller Achievement Service (EMTAS), North Hampshire Hub, Dame Mary Fagan House, Chineham Court, Lutyens Close, Basingstoke RG24 8AG

Telephone Number(s): 01256 330195

Email address: graham.ellwood@hants.gov.uk , EMTAS@hants.gov.uk

Website: www.hants.gov.uk/EMTAS

Hampshire Romanys

Hampshire Romanys is a new support group launching in Hampshire where the Romany community are able to meet and support Romanys with education for their children, health related issues, housing issues and any other support that the Romany community are looking for help with and encourage conversations about Romany heritage.

Telephone Number(s): 01256 357835

Email address: cherry.barney@btinternet.com

Friends, Families and Travellers

A national charity working on behalf of all Gypsies and Travellers regardless of ethnicity, culture or background. They provide advice and consultancy, promote health and wellbeing, work on research and policy, deliver training and much more

https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/get-advice/