Not sure if right section but any advice would be good

LizzieS_2

helpinghands wrote: »

Housing in the area I work is dreadful.

Client is depressed and has no motivation and tenancy is at risk and thats how i have become involved

Surely if you work with people who are risk of eviction, or looking for a home, you would know all the places to contact?

Kimitatsu

As an adviser I have to say that you should have access to what is available in your area - and if you dont then your advice agency should have.

But just off the top of my head as I dont know what area you are in:

Someone leaving prison - how long have they served? If they have SERVED 30 months or more then they become a priority one housing case, and need to put in a homeless persons app to the local council/registered social landlord. They then have to give them a homeless persons interview within 72 hours - its also woth checking if they are a MAPPA case or not, if so again they become a priority housing case. If none of those apply then community care grant is supposed to cover this, many councils provise a bond scheme, or if they served in the armed forces the Royal British Legion or SSAFA will provide a bond as long as all other avenues have been exhausted and it can be proved that they will be able to maintain the rent themselves.

As for your other lady - appeal against the decision not to rehouse her, if the council wont play ball then get Shelter involved. If you client has been diagnosed with depression then that is a mental health issue and you should have a mental health care team operating somewhere in the area. The council has a statutory duty to take into account the tennants ability to pay her rent and since you can prove they are forcing her into poverty (just from what you have said she couldnt afford to heat the property on that basis) then start with that. As for the fuel arrears look into getting her a grant to write off her utility arrears, all of the utility companies run them (including water) but she will have to keep to her payments for 6 months and then the arrears will be written off.

Can I ask what your position is, I can see that you are desperately trying to help these people but it does strike me that you have been thrown in the deep end a bit. However if you need to ask any more questions then please do so

AsknAnswer

Three words: COMMUNITY CARE GRANT

helpinghands_3

LizzieS wrote: »

Surely if you work with people who are risk of eviction, or looking for a home, you would know all the places to contact?

I know lots of places but sometimes the places who have helped me previously cant help again. Every case is different that I deal with.

DX2

helpinghands wrote: »

I know lots of places but sometimes the places who have helped me previously cant help again. Every case is different that I deal with.

So as a community support worker your employer knows you're on a forum like this asking where to go for help?

dreamylittledream

AsknAnswer wrote: »

Three words: COMMUNITY CARE GRANT

Three completley irrelevant words in regard to a request for a deposit for private rented accomodation.

A CCG can not be paid for any form of rent or deposit.

A crisis loan can be paid for rent in advance paid to a private landlord usually demanded to cover the period whilst HB is sorted - if there is a risk of homelessness if such a loan is not advanced.

A deposit however is also excluded by statute.

Usually in situations like this the Op should refer to their local councils rent deposit scheme and apply for a crisis loan for the rent in advance element.

The loan will be repaid from benefit - a homeless prisoner would normally be entitiled to claim Income Based JSA if nothing else or if unable to work due to illness IB ESA.

EDIT - just read the rest of the post regarding the OP's clients circumstances - nope out of luck all round really - the customer has housing -the fact that it is not very good council housing is not a compelling risk to health or safety.

viktory

I have to say if the OP is asking in relation to her employment it makes me very uneasy. Clearly they do not have the appropriate tools to enable them to do their job. As someone else has asked - does your employer know you are on here asking about specific cases?

BubbleFrogette

DX2 wrote: »

Can't sit on my hands any longer there is no such thing as poverty in the UK!

I cannot agree with you more DX2. There may be relative poverty, but real poverty - definately not. If people find themselves without running water, electricity or adequate food then they need to look at themselves to find out why. And we have compulsary education and free healthcare for all. If the OP went out to Asia or Africa where people have none of these things through no fault of their own, then maybe they would be more careful how they use the word in future.

thorsoak

I want to say that the person that the OP is referring to should consider herself thankful that she does have a roof over her head, that she still has allservices connected and that she should get off her backside and start clearing it all up!

However I do realise that depression is an awful debilitating illness and it is all too easy to make a statement like my first paragraph.

First and foremost this woman needs practical help - is there a branch of Community Mums in the area? Does her social worker sit there, wringing her hands in sympathy with the client - or does she roll her sleeves up and wash up a few cups?

qwertyuiop12345

DX2 wrote: »

Not being funny but maybe getting evicted would be the best thing for your client, as you say she lives in a 3 bed house she unable to look after or heat.

I was just about to suggest the same. If it is possible to arrange some alternative accomodation for this woman, might she not be better off with a fresh start somewhere else?

Is she classified as a vulnerable adult?