Local connection

A person has a local connection in the following circumstances:

• They have lived for 3 out of the last 5 years in Barnsley or have lived in Barnsley for 6 months out of the last 12 months.
• They are currently employed in the Barnsley area.
• They have close family who have lived in Barnsley for 3 out of the last 5 years or have lived in Barnsley for 6 months out of the last 12 months. Close family are parents, grandparents, sons and daughters and siblings
• Members of the Armed Forces and former service personnel, where the application is made within 5 years of discharge from HM Forces.
• Bereaved spouses and civil partners of members of the Armed Forces leaving Services Family Accommodation following the death of their spouse or civil partner
• Serving or former members of the Reserve Forces who need to move because of a serious injury, medical condition or disability which is wholly or partly attributable to their military service.
• They have other special circumstances that connect them to Barnsley.
• They have been deemed to have a local connection under current homelessness law.

If a person has a local connection they are assessed as if they lived within the borough and as such can be awarded priority in Bands 1 to 4.

Applicants awarded priority under Homelessness Duties (Part 7) by another local authority will not benefit from priority for the same reasons on the Barnsley Homeseeker Scheme.