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'Intentionally Homeless'
Sarah.Cc
Posts: 26 Forumite
Hello, I really hope some1 mite have some good advice for me....
long story here it goes::
Last year I was renting a property n fell into rent arrears due to the way the Housing Benefit was paid and a small shortfall. As the arrears mounted I spoke to people working in the benefit section who gave me no help or advice. After speaking with my landlord I decided due to the property being unaffordable I should hand in my notice and stay with a family member rather than getting in more debt and being evicted. I acted in good faith thinking this was the right thing to do.
After staying with my cousin firstly and then my mum I was asked to leave her property due to overcrowding. I went to speak with a housing person and she asked my mum to allow me to stay with her for a further month whilst she investigated. I did and after that month I was given access to a Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Eight weeks later, still in B&B I have been told I have made myself 'Intentionally Homeless' and in 28 days my 22 month old daughter and I will have to leave. They have advised me to speak to social services. I called them today and spoke to a lady, she informed me that if I am homeless after my 28 days left in the B&B my daughter can be taken into foster care but there is nothing they can do to help me.
I will be able to appeal against the councils 'Intentionally homeless' decision but if that fails then we will be homeless. I have spoken to some estate agents who are willing to help me find a property within the Private rented sector but again the local council are refusing to help me secure a property with a deposit. As a single mother I am struggling to come to terms with being faced with homelessness and every way I turn seems to be another obstacle!
I think that it is disgusting that I am being treated this way due to an innocent error I made, I really thought it was the right thing to do leaving the property and would never have put my daughter and I through this hardship if I had of known the difficulties I would face. I have also found the ladies dealing with my case very un-helpful and feel as if there might be some discrimination against me due to a previous complaint I had made down to their previous errors.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! :A:A
PS. i have been to CAB and they werent very helpful at alll!!!!
long story here it goes::
Last year I was renting a property n fell into rent arrears due to the way the Housing Benefit was paid and a small shortfall. As the arrears mounted I spoke to people working in the benefit section who gave me no help or advice. After speaking with my landlord I decided due to the property being unaffordable I should hand in my notice and stay with a family member rather than getting in more debt and being evicted. I acted in good faith thinking this was the right thing to do.
After staying with my cousin firstly and then my mum I was asked to leave her property due to overcrowding. I went to speak with a housing person and she asked my mum to allow me to stay with her for a further month whilst she investigated. I did and after that month I was given access to a Bed and Breakfast accommodation. Eight weeks later, still in B&B I have been told I have made myself 'Intentionally Homeless' and in 28 days my 22 month old daughter and I will have to leave. They have advised me to speak to social services. I called them today and spoke to a lady, she informed me that if I am homeless after my 28 days left in the B&B my daughter can be taken into foster care but there is nothing they can do to help me.
I will be able to appeal against the councils 'Intentionally homeless' decision but if that fails then we will be homeless. I have spoken to some estate agents who are willing to help me find a property within the Private rented sector but again the local council are refusing to help me secure a property with a deposit. As a single mother I am struggling to come to terms with being faced with homelessness and every way I turn seems to be another obstacle!
I think that it is disgusting that I am being treated this way due to an innocent error I made, I really thought it was the right thing to do leaving the property and would never have put my daughter and I through this hardship if I had of known the difficulties I would face. I have also found the ladies dealing with my case very un-helpful and feel as if there might be some discrimination against me due to a previous complaint I had made down to their previous errors.
PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! :A:A
PS. i have been to CAB and they werent very helpful at alll!!!!
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Comments
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I've been throught the homeless system 14 times in 4 years. However I reside in Scotland. I assume your in England, therefore different. So can't advice. However if you did what you did here, same situation. My friend did exact. However never had a child. Which up here again, would change things.
As you have a child, are you not in the vulnerable group? I tried to burn my house down, while back. Landlord kicked me out. Now I was intentially homeless'. However as I have mental health, I was deemed vulnerable and by LAW the local authority under duty of care must help me.
Why would social workers want to take your child into foster care? We can help child buy not you. Yet take the child from mother. Does not make sense.0 -
14 times!!! omg it is so tiring! im glad u have been sorted out now...no as i am intentionally homeless they do not have a duty apparently their only duty is for my child hence the foster care bit...crazy i no!!!!!0
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Do you not have some other family who can help you for a little while until you get this sorted?
I really can't help all i can say say that your situation is a sobering thought, and i really hope you get the assistance you are looking for and have a good christmas.0 -
not really no, as they have helped me financially when i was in the 1st flat that got me into this mess and not really enough room 2 stay with ne1 but im sure if it came down to my daughter being taken away i could find a sofa!! thank u anyway!0
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try shelter for help and advice
http://www.shelter.org.uk/0 -
we was in a very similar situation and when we were told we were intentionally homeless it was refered to social services and we were told there was no way they would ever split our family up, they paid for 1350 deposit and we got a budget loan for the rest and we found our own private rental, overall we did have to fight them for the deposit but we did that through an MP0
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I'm so sorry about your situation! What part of the country are you in?0
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WOODBINE... i have just been on shelter and found it very helpful! thank you, i have written to my council again to beg for a deposit so fingers crossed!!
Julie...im glad u got it sorted and realise u must of had to fight hard to get the help! I have actually just written to my local MP so hopefully that might help me too...i have found a flat accepting benefit tenants so now it is to find the deposit!!
Chocolate...thank u 4 ur post, i am in Surrey!0 -
WOODBINE... i have just been on shelter and found it very helpful! thank you, i have written to my council again to beg for a deposit so fingers crossed!!
Julie...im glad u got it sorted and realise u must of had to fight hard to get the help! I have actually just written to my local MP so hopefully that might help me too...i have found a flat accepting benefit tenants so now it is to find the deposit!!
Chocolate...thank u 4 ur post, i am in Surrey!
Sarah glad it was of use,good luck x0 -
Are you saying your mother/family will see you walking the streets with nowhere to go..?Feudal Britain needs land reform. 70% of the land is "owned" by 1 % of the population and at least 50% is unregistered (inherited by landed gentry). Thats why your slave box costs so much..0
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