Daughter's 20 year old friend homeless, what help is there?

debrag

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

I live 'down south' (south east) and a room in a place is at least £300/month (around £70/wk). That is a lot different from £40-50 that you are saying.
Even if it is up north so cheaper do you think a girl of 20 should be looking at a house share with people she doesn't know?
I'm 21 and if I were healthy (I'm disabled) I wouldn't live with people I didn't know even if my parents kicked me out (impossible as I live with my partner but just saying if that were the case etc). It's not something a person should be forced into in my opinion. If she is working part time council housing could help - most 20 year olds on minimum wage, or just over, working full time still need help in most areas - it's not really a livable wage in most areas. Council housing isn't just for those that work. Unfortanatly it is very hard to get a council house in most areas (we asked but got told we wern't priority even though I'm disabled and can't work).

If the OP can put this girl up for a while it could help her a lot more. OP ask for a contrabution to the household, something like keep, to help. A;sp try and help her get a place if possible - council (housing benefit) or private (local housing alowence) would be good for her and you.

All my houseshares have been with people I didn't know.

Oldernotwiser

ash4becks wrote: »

ONW iam guessing its a long time ago you setup a home from scratch mine was only 3 years ago i still have very few things that are new even with the little extra i recive with dla

But when you move out of your parents' house in your early twenties you're not setting up home! You move into a furnished house/flat share with other people of the same age, with minimum expense.

There are places like these advertised in Manchester for 40.00 per week with a deposit of about 100.00, so an initial outlay of about 260.00. I thought that if the OP could lend half, this girl could manage the rest.

(You're right, it's a while since I set up home, although not as long ago as you might think as as I was house sharing into my thirties. I still have very little that is new despite working all my life in reasonable professional jobs.)

Oldernotwiser

Doom_and_Gloom wrote: »

Even if it is up north so cheaper do you think a girl of 20 should be looking at a house share with people she doesn't know?
I'm 21 and if I were healthy (I'm disabled) I wouldn't live with people I didn't know even if my parents kicked me out (impossible as I live with my partner but just saying if that were the case etc). .

I think you're being rather fussy with this not living with strangers thing. It's quite normal at that age, even for people with decent jobs and several years older.

Oldernotwiser

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Is there a young people's housing forum in the area? She mighht be able to get a place there. She would have her own room, but there are common areas such as a lounge and kitchen. There are also staff to help with employment, family problems, etc. If this girl is vulnerable, then it sounds as though this sort of support would be important.

Sorry to nitpick but I think you mean Foyer.

I don't see why you consider her to be "vulnerable" ; nothing the OP has said implies that.

terryw

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

I don't see why you consider her to be "vulnerable" ; nothing the OP has said implies that.

Except for post 5

montymud

Once registered as homeless the council are obligated to house her in a number of ways. The 1st thing they will try and do si find family or friends to stay with which is not the best plan. Then they can offer her the money for a deposit on a rental property which is most likely how it will pan out. It is very unlikely that she will get a council property as she is not a priority need regardelss of being homeless or not, sorry - its just the way it works. But them offering the rental deposit scheme is a good thing and she should jump at the oppertunity. Hope it all gets sorted soon and I think its really nice that you are showing concern for the girl. Best of luck x

Oldernotwiser

terryw wrote: »

Except for post 5

Yes, she used the word but she didn't say why. We have no way of knowing whether she has learning difficulties, substance abuse problems or any other form of vulnerability. We just know that this is a young woman, aged 20 who will be leaving home in a hurry.

hermum

montymud wrote: »

Once registered as homeless the council are obligated to house her in a number of ways. The 1st thing they will try and do si find family or friends to stay with which is not the best plan. Then they can offer her the money for a deposit on a rental property which is most likely how it will pan out. It is very unlikely that she will get a council property as she is not a priority need regardelss of being homeless or not, sorry - its just the way it works. But them offering the rental deposit scheme is a good thing and she should jump at the oppertunity. Hope it all gets sorted soon and I think its really nice that you are showing concern for the girl. Best of luck x

The council won't be obliged to rehouse her if she's non priority, they are obliged to ensure she receives housing advice that may be done in house or may be through an outside agency.
Even if she's deemed a priority if she's made herself intentionally homeless then the council still won't be obliged to house her.
Often when youngsters are asked to leave the parental home it's because they refuse to live by the parents rules. This would no doubt be seen as intentional homelessness.
The housing adviser will probably speak to the parents & see if there is anyway the girl can remain.

Jowo_2

idvi wrote: »

maybe its just me here, but i feel like people are ganging up on the op a bit

..it should be no excuse for the council to shirk their responsibilities based on the fact she is healthy and can sofa-surf with the op for a little while

i hope she gets on the council list, and i hope it gets sorted out quickly op.

when my friend was made homeless by his parents at 18 (great isnt it!?:mad:) there was talk of various options (ymca/hostel, b&b, distant family, supported living etc)

As far as I can see, the other posters have asked the OP to consider other scenarios to resolve the girl's problem other than the simplistic assumption that the council will give her social housing and this social housing will cure all her ills.

In many places, the demand for social housing strips supply so that the local council struggle to discharge its responsibilities for those in priority groups where it has a legal, statutory obligation to supply accommodation to them. That's why, in some areas, many councils have to lease properties in the private sector for needy tenants on their waiting list. That's also why in some areas, those outside of the priority groups get short-thrift and why there's a possibility that the OPs young family friend isn't necessarily going to parachute into a council flat.

Generally, provision of social housing for healthy, working, single adults is low - that's probably why the expectation of getting it has been tempered with the OP.

Wee_Willy_Harris

Jowo wrote: »

As far as I can see, the other posters have asked the OP to consider other scenarios to resolve the girl's problem other than the simplistic assumption that the council will give her social housing and this social housing will cure all her ills.

In many places, the demand for social housing strips supply so that the local council struggle to discharge its responsibilities for those in priority groups where it has a legal, statutory obligation to supply accommodation to them. That's why, in some areas, many councils have to lease properties in the private sector for needy tenants on their waiting list. That's also why in some areas, those outside of the priority groups get short-thrift and why there's a possibility that the OPs young family friend isn't necessarily going to parachute into a council flat.

Generally, provision of social housing for healthy, working, single adults is low - that's probably why the expectation of getting it has been tempered with the OP.

Agreed, but worklessness/employment isn't a priority issue and, in all practical terms, makes no different to the allocation of social housing or homelessness.