Where do I start ? no point going on !

msmicawber

Hi CGS - it was a relief to see that you'd posted this morning, but I was so sorry to note that your cirumstances haven't really moved on.

I've been racking my brains of how to help you as I think the position you are in with your children is beyond belief. Would you be prepared to say where you are in the country (just general area) in case anyone reading has some local knowledge that could be of use to you?

Please keep posting when you get the chance, and try and keep your chin up.

With best wishes.

gallygirl

CGS - please let us know where you are - roughly - as others have said maybe someone can do something.

Chin up hun, your tale is UNBELIEVABLE. The fact you are holding it together is amazing.

Tiff_2

HI CGS!!!:j
Welcome back angel! Glad you're back - my blood pressure was climbing.;)

I too had some really hard times and ended up with [STRIKE]Monty Python's Flying Circus,[/STRIKE] err, I mean the council's housing team.:mad: They did come round in the end. You are doing so well.- - - hang in there!

Again I want to say to you that I've never seen a family homeless and living on the street!

I know it's hard angel but we're here for you and it's a freebie too!
You're doing all the right things but we all know it takes time.
How long do you think you've got before you leave? I'm trying to get an idea of the time frame there is to work with.
As other posters have said, if you want to pm me with where you are, maybe I'll have other ideas.

I've been thinking again (Sorry!:rolleyes: ), there's usually more than one local councillor in the area. If you haven't heard from yours by the end of the week, ask to speak to another councillor. I can't believe it - athlete's foot?!:mad:
If this tack continues with him, you'll have to be more assertive with him and state your problem tears and all - nothing to be ashamed of! Let him see how this has left you. If you can, play to his vanity and tell him you need a council champion.
VERY IMPORTANTLY, you should tell him on Tuesday after the holiday, that you've been in touch with the press who are going to cover your story - that'll get someone's attention hopefully.:p
Also a letter from your GP about how your health has been affected by all this will also help. Have you seen him/her yet? Please go if not: they won't swipe the children away if you do & you won't be the 1st person they've seen suffering your problems.

trying to think horizontally here (No, I didn't mean laterally! I've tried that & it doesn't work!!:D)
- is there any particular reason why you have to stay in the area CGS? Do you have family there? Or anywhere else? Sometimes a council can be persuaded to recommend you urgently to another area and I'm sure you won't miss them!
I don't know how young the children are but they are versatile and will know you're doing your best. I bet they're great kids.;)

In addition, document, document, document! Write down every phone call, visit, letter - time, date and who etc where possible in a diary. It can help stop you becoming confused with who said what,where,when and why.
Plus you'll be able to use their own words back at them.

I'll go vertical again and do some more thinking. I hope this helps in some way angel - & don't worry about us, we're all learning & sharing too!;) I'm - and all the other posters I'm sure - send you a huge :grouphug: Keep us posted. x

Verbatim

Hi CGS,

Thanks for coming back and upsdating us. Your councillor sounds like a 5* prat! Hope the MP turns out to be more use.

You sound a lot stronger and I am full of admiration at the way you are holding it all together for your kids, and pulling out all the stops to get rehoused. Hey, after this you'll be an expert in housing and should maybe replace that senior housing officer, lol.

Tiff_2

In my area, when I was homeless and in their refuge, the council did make me an offer and I had to accept - you are not allowed a choice in the matter. They had fulfilled their duty in offering me a home on the basis that if you're homeless, you'll take anything. I don't know if this is the same in other areas but these rules don't seem to apply if you can prove you need to move on medical or social grounds. In CGS's case, maybe at a stretch, maybe she can claim that her health in the current situation is suffering with the backup of a doctor's letter?

msmicawber

Tiff wrote:

I had to accept - you are not allowed a choice in the matter. They had fulfilled their duty in offering me a home on the basis that if you're homeless, you'll take anything. I don't know if this is the same in other areas

That's right - if you're being housed under the Homeless Persons Act, then you have to accept the offer you are made, or make your own arrangements. It's not regional.

The trouble here is that she's being told that she is not eligible to be housed under the Homeless Persons Act because she is deemed to have made herself intentionally homeless. I agree it's a load of cobblers, but that's the stance they're taking with her.

Tiff_2

msmicawber wrote:

That's right - if you're being housed under the Homeless Persons Act, then you have to accept the offer you are made, or make your own arrangements. It's not regional.

The trouble here is that she's being told that she is not eligible to be housed under the Homeless Persons Act because she is deemed to have made herself intentionally homeless. I agree it's a load of cobblers, but that's the stance they're taking with her.

I think it's terrible too. just because you are homeless, doesn't mean you should be put in a house no-one else would touch (which is why you get it).
Wasn't going to mention my experiences but I was also deemed by my council housing office, to have made myself "intentionally homeless" and I was in a council shelter for 12 weeks with my 8 year old son.
It was very irresponsible of me to have left my home due to domestic violence and mental cruelty and through my ex-husband threatening to kill me! He was seriously depressed after the sudden death of his mother.
The council said I should have made him leave, even though his name was on the rent lease. I said that I didn't want to go in that house again - I'd never feel safe.
I was called in and told off virtually by a senior housing officer who made it clear that they were very unhappy with me & thought I had technically cheated the system but that in the end they would offer me a property. I was so humiliated.
I was going to go on but I'm sorry everyone I can't I'm really upset - sorry

scaredy_cat_2

hi, new to this myself so whilst can't help with debt can tell you about my sister who had situation in that she was having to be moved due to landlord selling and a bankrupt partner who she then split with - she registered herself as homeless with local authority and housing associations then took over. She was in b&b to start with (not ideal but warm) and then a flat or two before finally being awared a house. Things that gave her more points were having suffered with depression, her dr/health visitor wrote a letter. and she just kept going down to the office not hassling or being stropy but just asking on a weekly basis. She now has a housing association house and the security that it is hers - she pays £5 a week rent and rest paid for her.

hope this helps and we pay tax for long enough its your turn for help now - good luck and let us know how you get on, best wishes

scaredy_cat_2

Tiff hope you ok sending a hug - these people in systems seem to get so bogged down with their systems they forget they are dealing with people

hadn't read all posts so my last post possibly bit out dated on info sorry

meerustar

OMG :mad: How can any establishment treat anyone like this, it makes your blood boil:mad:

I just wish I could help you in some way but I have no knowledge of the housing system or anything like that, so all I can offer are words of advice.

DON'T GIVE UP!!

You sound like you are really struggling and puts a lot of our problems here into perspective ... and we see that and that is why we will go out of our way to help you!!!

If I could do anything constructive I would, I feel so helpless. Only a couple of days ago I posted my SOA and felt stuck in a rut (and got some abuse for it to) ... but now I know that there is an even LOWER place to go and hopefully I never have to go down that route.

You don't need an angel ... YOU ARE AN ANGEL!!! You look after your children, you are ill, you are in debt and soon to be homeless and yet you still carry on.

Please tell us what area you live in and maybe someone off the board here (maybe myself) could meet you for a coffee and a chat and even be the crutch you need when you meet the Housing Officer/ MP etc. It's hard work doing it by yourself and with someone by your side, even minding the kids in the corner, can be a massive help.

Above all, be proud of yourself. You are fighting for your children and for your future ... You are one hell of a woman.

If I could wave a magic wand only once in my life I would wave if for you!