HELP!! HELP!! Homeless and need a council house in London urgently

snique

Hi guys

I'm hoping someone can help me without judging me. Here it goes. I am a humanitarian refugee and i got my status in 2009. I have an 18 mnth old baby and i just recently returned to the uk after an absence of 1 year. I am what u would class as homeless as i am currently sleeping on my cousins couch in Barking with my baby. I am currently unemployed and i am actually looking into going to university and have just signed on for income support, i have no savings so i cannot get a house to rent privately. If i go to the council based on the fact that i am a refugee, have an 18 mnth old bby, am homeless, a single parent, no income and no savings would they help me with getting a council house urgently anywhere in East London and if so would i get a flat or a house?

HELPFUL ANSWERS ONLY PLEASE

geri1965_2

You would more than likely get a place in a hostel to start with. Shelter is the best place to go for advice.

ruggedtoast

You seem to tick all the boxes to go straight to the front of the housing queue. Why are you asking here though? Just go to the council housing unit on Monday.

ognum

Hmm first post is this a troll waiting for the 'you dont deserve a council house posters ' to bite?

Wee_Willy_Harris

It depends on where you were placed via NASS. Wherever that was is your "local connection". You can apply under the Homeless legislation in Barking. However, even if they accept that application and a duty to house, they are very likely to refer that duty to the area in which you were previously resident under NASS.

BitterAndTwisted

With an 18 month old child you'd be lucky to qualify for a one-bed flat: up to a certain age they are deemed to not require their own bedrooms. If there were any available: in Barking I imagine that the demand is absolutely huge. Your Local Authority will, in all likelihood, look to finding a private rental for you if they have no suitable, vacant properties available. But the only way to find out is to be on the Housing Dept's doorstep first thing tomorrow morning.

ognum

OP can I suggest you google the refugee support agencies like this one http://www.refugeesupport.org.uk/london.html they will help you around te issues you have Good luck with you hunt for a home

theartfullodger

snique wrote: »

Hi guys

I'm hoping someone can help me without judging me. Here it goes. I am a humanitarian refugee and i got my status in 2009. I have an 18 mnth old baby and i just recently returned to the uk after an absence of 1 year. ...........
......

There are 5 tests you have to pass before the council will help you...see

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=housing%205%20tests&source=web&cd=1&sqi=2&ved=0CDYQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.homeless.org.uk%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2FFact-sheet-2-The-Housing-Act-and-vulnerability.pdf&ei=xlHSTtaJIMbv8QPV3ZH6Dw&usg=AFQjCNHlSCps6cwK-8OLNizPSLDNDqmkEg&cad=rja

DEFINING HOMELESSNESS
A local housing authority will consider five tests in deciding whether it has a legal duty to
house a person or household presenting as homeless. These tests are:
• Legally homeless
• Eligibility for assistance
• Priority need
• Intentionality
• Local connection

Intentionality means are you "intentionally homeless". For example, did you walk out of a lovely council flat in Birmingham where you hadn't been told to leave by the council just because you wanted to live in London (I know this is not the case..).

If you left a home wherever it is you have been without having to leave they probably will not help you. So, for example, if you had to leave beacuse the house was bombed and destroyed OK, but if you were staying with family & just wanted to come to London, probably not.

Suggest you present youself with any children at the local council homeless department on Monday morning 09:00 and explain you position.

If (IF!!) the council decide they will help the 1st place they give you may not be one you want to move into..

Please look after your 18month old. I am sure you will do all you can - such as getting a job - to help the child...

withabix

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I don't think either of your question have any bearing on the OP's situation.

Of course they do.

They relate to need and entitlement.

withabix

If they have been out of the UK living somewhere else, they may have made themselves intentionally homeless by returning to the UK. Presumably they were living somewhere. (Need)

If they have been back to their home country, then they may not actually be a humantarian refugee. (Entitlement)


The OP has not provided enough information for proper advice to be given.

paddygirl

I am guessing you have indefinate leave to remain?
Its not a simple case of walking into the council and getting a hostel. Certainly they will want to know where you lived for 1 year when abroad, and why you didnt make proper plans for accomodation before arriving back in the UK.

People need to start taking responsibilty for their own lives instead of burdening the state.