Intentionally homeless, advice needed!! (might be long!)

lisa.m_3

Hello this is my first post on this site so please be gentle with me! I have done alot of reading though so I hope I have chosen the correct section to post.

I will try to keep this brief, so if it doesn't sound right or make sense just let me know.

Basically two years ago my husband lost his buissness, he spent alot of court fee's to get his buissness back which left us in debt.

We went to the job centre and they pointed us in the right direction of benefits, my husband was on income support with stress while I was looking after our son, who was then a baby.
We claimed LHA CTC and CB plus the income support.

We have got into debt again, my husband started a job so LHA was stopped, we got a percentage paid but it was not enough to survive, then we were overpaid CTC and WTC (long story trying to be brief) so we were more in poverty.

Although we shouldn't and I know this is the 'bad' part we began to spend our LHA, just to survive not like we went on a spree.
So we got in arrears with rent, we told our agents who told landlady, she has been so patient with us but soon got fed up, she moved us to a periodic tenancy and soon enough we got our 2 months notice, I took the letter to our local council who spoke to the landlady who agreed to help us out a bit longer by delaying and letting us stay.
Soon money troubles arose again and more problems with WTC and overpayment led my husband JSA to stop so our LHA claim was stopped (urgh) we were back where we began....again.

So again we got two months and have to leave by 7th December.
On the 7th she is going to get a court order for possession, I went down the council again and asked for help I was told to fill out an application form for homelessness, we got an appointment a few days later and were told we were intentionally homeless because we had spent our LHA money the women was sympathetic that what we did was out of financial hardship and has said once we have the court papers through we are able to appeal on this decision.

I'm so worried now my last resort being the council seems useless now, I know full well I have not made this situation good on myself or family but what we did was to survive...somehow I never thought it would get this bad.

I'm worried my decision will not go in my favor, what will happen then ? Will my son be taken from me ?
I have no other help my parents live 100's of miles away and we have no friends who are willing to put us up.

If anyone has experience with this or even better if you have had to go through this is there any advice you could offer ?

Thanks

Lisa

(sorry is not brief at all!!)

And also I re posted this as advised, just copied and pasted so it's not really my first post !

robin_banks

3 letters; CAB

RAS

Contact Shelter - http://www.shelter.org.uk/

How many months are you in arrears?

In the mean-time, you are almost certainly going to have to move, start to go round and identify those things that you would not want to take , pack or store and start selling them on e-bay, amazon, car-boot, free ads etc. That will help you pul together some money to cover moving costs.

misspoppy

HI
Sorry to hear of your situation.
Search for mumoftwins thread she was in a similar situation. you need to call shelter because if the council find you intentially homeless they won't house you so you should look for somewhere else to live but obviously you will need deposit help too. I'm certain christians against poverty helped mumoftwins so they would also be worth contacting but shelter will give you your housing rights.

You've probably got a month from the 7th Dec to be out so you need to make plans for your belongings as well as a home but be warned the council won't do anything until the day you are evicted.

Good luck

Insomniac666

Get to citizens advice asap, there are places that some local authorities run for emergency shelter, although a lot of the time in my experience, these may have people with alcohol/drug problems, or ex-prison inmates, it's not everyone I dont' want to tar everyone with the same brush, but this is something you may want to be aware with your son in tow.

Is there any family close by you can crash with, even if it means splitting you and your husband up at night for sleeping purposes?

lisa.m_3

Thank you for all my replies,

I'm going to the CAB as soon as I get my son from school and give him lunch.
I first posted this thread in the housing section but someone suggested I post it here for a better response.
I am reading through the thread made by mumoftwins I'm on page 8 I can see what she has been through happening to me.
I have been to housing benefits today who pay my LHA it has been suspended because of £1400 rent arrears she wanted to know where the LHA money had been going, I told her it was taken by the bank and charges, but didn't have the guts to tell her we were also living off of it, she was such a b8tch women speaking loudly making me feel humiliated in front of the whole room generally making me feel the lowest of the low.

I feel I should write a letter explaining my circumstances and why we spent the money they derive an explanation but I can see myself getting in trouble, as this is like benefit fraud isnt it ?

Will the CAB see me as soon as I go into the office ? It's a whole train ride away and I will be taking me and my son which is £5 train fair, I don't have money on my phone to call them either.

What should I take with me ?

Sorry for all my questions.

Lisa

misspoppy

HI can you look up your local cab office online as I don't think they are open all day
I really recomend shelter they deal specifically with housing and its a free phone number

Gillianh2

OP

Might be worth ringing the housing dept; and asking for an appt with a supervisor, ( they could ring you back) if you are going to the office ask for a private interview. That will give you a chance to explain your situation. I think (someone will correct me I am sure) the Housing Benefit can be reinstated and paid directly to the Landlord. So at least she is getting some payments and this "might" give you a little breathing space.

Mumoftwins found brilliant help with the Christians against Poverty" charity. They would definitly be worth contacting. Also look up for the CAB you really need solid help support and advice now.

As others have suggested, see if there is anything you no longer need, or use and either e-bay it or do a car boot sale. This will help you out financially in the short term.

Have you done a SOA so that the brill peeps on here can see any savings you can make. It is amazing what can be achieved when the DFW's get there heads together:j

Now you have found the site, dont give up, yes you have made some mistakes and silly decisions, but we have all done and said dull things. Now you have taken the first step you will find lots of support and help here, so keep posting and keep us updated.

Good Luck

lisa.m_3

Hi,

I cant get to CAB today, it's appointments only in the afternoon, so I will have to wait tomorrow morning.

I cant understand my self how I have made thses mistakes, I have had depression and stress for a long time I think I just gave up with reality and carried on in my own state of mind, I seem to have been snapped back to reality and am facing my problems head on-I also didn't managed to get a Dr's appointment today but desperately need one tomorrow I don't have my next council session until the 4th next week, everything seems to be moving fast.

My husband on the other hand...well he's no help at all had a right go at me for telling the housing benefit to pay money direct to landlord..I dont know.

lolly_896

Hey Lisa,

Well done for facing your problems head on! Takes a big person. Hopefully you will get to CAB tomorow and they can help you somewhat. In the mean time i suggest you speak to the charitys mentioned.

Have the council agreed to pay the landlord direct? I think the landlord maybe happier this way at least he will be getting the rent?

Good Luck Lisa

lisa.m_3

On page 21 of mumoftwins thread !!

I'd meat to say in my last post I have my next counseling session on the 4th not council session !! oops.

Mumoftwins thread has given me alot of advice on how to get the ball rolling, although I don't know how I'm going to get through this with such an unsporting husband at the moment, I will wait until I tell Housing benefit the truth about the money until I see CAB tomorrow. Ive tried shelter again (well about 20 times) and dont seem to get through...

Hi Lolly housing benefit want the rent to be paid straight to landlady so I agreed in writing.
After I got home and told my husband he went mad went to the HB office and found out the landlady will next be paid on 14th December, I told him to tell the agents and he went mad anyway, I will have to go out and get credit and ring them to tell them myself. I really hate the girls that work there they are so clicky and shallow but hey it's got to be done.

Gillianh I don't know what SOA is ? lol but thank you for you advice,

I will be back later but have to take my son out as he desperate to feed the squirrels at the pavilion !