Homeless service privacy notice

Part of: Trafford Council privacy notice

Contents

Read this alongside the Trafford Council privacy notice for information that applies to all services.

This page explains how we collect and use personal information in the homeless service.

What information we collect

We may collect:

  • Name, address and contact details
  • Date of birth, gender and National Insurance number
  • Information about your household and family members
  • Details of your housing history and previous addresses
  • Financial information, including income, benefits and debts
  • Information about your employment and education
  • Details of health conditions or disabilities that affect your housing needs
  • Records of support needs and services provided
  • Information from landlords, housing associations or support agencies

Some of this may include special category data such as:

  • Health information
  • Racial or ethnic origin
  • Religious or philosophical beliefs
  • Sexual orientation

We may also collect criminal offence data where relevant to your housing needs or safety.

Why we collect your information

We use your information to:

  • Assess your eligibility for housing assistance under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017
  • Prevent and relieve homelessness
  • Provide temporary or supported accommodation
  • Help you access other housing options
  • Coordinate with other services to support your needs
  • Protect the health and safety of you and others
  • Prevent and detect fraud

Our lawful basis

The main legal bases we use are:

  • Public task – to carry out our duties under housing and homelessness law
  • Legal obligation – to comply with statutory requirements for housing assistance
  • Vital interests – where necessary to protect someone’s life

For special category data, we rely on:

  • Health or social care purposes – under UK GDPR Article 9(2)(h)
  • Safeguarding purposes – under UK GDPR Article 9(2)(g) and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018

For criminal offence data, we rely on:

  • Substantial public interest – for the prevention or detection of unlawful acts and to protect the public

Who we share your information with

We may share your information with:

  • Other council teams, such as social care, housing allocations and benefits
  • Housing associations and private landlords
  • Voluntary and community organisations providing housing support
  • NHS organisations and other healthcare providers
  • The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)
  • The police or other agencies, if required for safeguarding or law enforcement
  • Other local authorities, if you have lived or applied for housing outside Trafford

How long we keep your information

Homeless service records are kept for six years after your case is closed, unless there is ongoing legal action or safeguarding concerns that require us to keep them longer.

Automated decision‑making

The homeless service does not make decisions about you based solely on automated processing.

Contact us

If you have questions about how we use your information in the homeless service, see the contact us section in the primary privacy notice.