Advice Required on Homelessness

GrungeMeister

Son, you'll need to get a home identified & have the papers etc BEFORE they'll cough up with a crisis loan. You'll need to have your landlord's details (plus those of the folk paying the deposit, if applicable) before they'll even consider it.

That's because the Crisis Loan people are being inundated with folk swinging the lead & trying to get money out them to which they're not entitled. They're having to be extra careful, no doubt sometimes that comes over as rudeness or awkwardness on the part of their staff ... but they're "under instructions from above" to crack down hard on this area of the Social Fund spend.

Btw if they tell you the Crisis Loan has to be done through the post, politiely ask for a supervisor ; you're homeless, it HAS to be done same day over the phone.

Hope you get somewhere sorted today.

counterfeit

All I was trying to get from Crisis Loans was a few quid for some food and some credit for my phone to be able to ring Landlords. Fortunately for me a very nice lady in the One Stop Centre let me ring a few landlords from her desk or I would have had no chance.

BigAunty

I would phone Shelter on their homelessness line - someone who has no security of tenure past the next 28 days should be classed as homeless, I believe, not general needs. Shelter will let you know if you've been fobbed off. Or see if you can get an appointment with the Citizens Advice Bureau - but they are under a lot of pressure, long waiting lists, let them know you are soon to be street homeless.

You may not necessarily be considered a high priority (but Shelter will know best, not me) as I believe this may be those with dependents or disabilities but perhaps this also includes the general homeless.

Councils are notorious for not meeting their statutory obligations, especially when it comes to single people. Crisis undertook a 'mystery shopping' exercise and got lots of people to present themselves as homeless and in virtually all cases, they did not meet their most simple and basic rights - many who should have been found accommodation asap were not even able to get past the receptionist, nor given a form to fill in, many were told to return with extra information although that's not the process.

You say you went to a 'one stop centre' - perhaps the people there are undertrained, thought you just wanted to apply to go on the waiting list and did not know to refer you to their homelessness team? Go to their options team instead of a place where people pay their council tax! (EDIT - i note that there was allegedly an outreach centre at the oneshop place you attended so not sure why they expected you to sleep on the street that night). Did you speak to a Housing Options person?

Did they complete a personal housing plan with you? If not, go to the actual options housing place and tell them about the poor advice/support you've been given, demand a PHP and let them know you are contacting Shelter about your rights. (It still doesn't necessarily mean you parachute into social housing, though, might be a hostel or some such).

This is what the Leeds Council website says:-

If you have nowhere to live, or if you are likely to become homeless, we can help you.

We can

• help prevent you from becoming homeless
• find out whether we have a duty to provide you with a home
• help you find a new home
• help to prevent you losing your home
• help you to keep any housing you do find

We will, do what we can to, help you sort out issues that may prevent you from staying in your home. We will make every effort so that you can remain there safely and securely.
At Leeds Housing Options our top priority is to help you make the right choice about where you want to live. We know that every situation is different so we will listen to what you tell us and make sure that we help you to find the right option for you.
We can help you find the full range of options that are available to you - from private tenancies to council housing, from in-house security to debt management - and give you comprehensive advice on each of the options available to you. Remember - the sooner you approach us, the more options will be open to you. Act early!
We will always try to help you to stay in your home. Our Housing Options Advisors can help you to resolve any issues or problems that you are having. If this is not possible or appropriate, we will help you to move-on to alternative accommodation in a planned way.
When you have an appointment with us, we will complete a Personal Housing Plan with you. This document contains lots of information about you and your situation. We use this information to create a ‘plan of action’ - detailing what steps we can take to enable you to explore all your options. This Personal Housing Plan follows you through the entire process.
We will carry out any legal duties that arise from your Personal Housing Plan. We will make sure that you understand what this means for you.

Contact Details

Leeds Housing Options
1st Floor, 2 Great George Street
Leeds
LS2 8BA

Telephone 0113 222 4412
Minicom:0113 247 6078
Opening Hours:
Mon-Thu: 08:30 – 16:00
Fri: 09:30 – 16:00

We also run outreach services at the following One Stop Centres:

• Dewsbury Road
• Seacroft South
• Armley

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/Page.aspx?pageIdentifier=221D8CE643F96D2180256E1400386E73

BigAunty

I've just had a look at their other information - perhaps they did assess you and decided that you did not belong to a vulnerable group so had no right to temporary/emergency accommodation? Still might be worth running it past Shelter or double checking your rights on their website - local councils have to follow statutory rules and can't pick and choose their own criteria.


If you have nowhere to live, Leeds Housing Options will carry out a Homelessness Assessment as a part of your Personal Housing Plan.
Immediate (emergency) accommodation is only available to persons who meet the 'tests' of homelessness, as set down in law by the government in the Housing Act, 1996 (as amended) Part VII; these are: We will, do what we can to, help you sort out issues that may prevent you from staying in your home. We will make every effort so that you can remain there safely and securely.

• Eligible - a person must be eligible to for assistance from public funds and habitually resident in the UK.
• Homeless - a person must not have accommodation anywhere in the world which they have a right to occupy and which is reasonable to occupy.
• Priority Need - a person must be more vulnerable than an average homeless person.
• Not intentional - a person must not have made themselves homeless.
• Local Connection - a person must have a specified connection to Leeds.

If officers at Leeds Housing Options believe that you are eligible for assistance, homeless, and have a priority need for accommodation, you may be provided with temporary accommodation if you need it, whilst an assessment of your circumstances is completed.
This accommodation may be in a hostel or other form of accommodation, and your placement could be anywhere in Leeds.

http://www.leeds.gov.uk/About_Leeds/Leeds_Housing_Options_/Finding_a_new_home_in_Leeds/Homelessness/Temporary_and_emergency_accommodation.aspx

BigAunty

OP - if you are struggling to pay for food, find out if there are any food banks in Leeds. The Trussell Trust are the main donors with branches in quite a few locations but perhaps there are other ones run by smaller organisations in the area. Typically they hand out 3 days worth of groceries.

To be honest, though, I didn't find any on my brief search on google, nearest one is in bradford.

counterfeit

I am loving the local library service. I have not needed it before now but the fact that I can use these computers to read all this advice in invaluable.

I have just been to Housing Options and they agree that I am not vulnerable but they have agreed that they will work with me to find a private landlord under their special scheme (can't remember the name of it) which means no bond is paid and no references are required (they would be difficult as I am unemployed).

Then, I came back to Armley to use the computers in the library, spoke briefly to the man running the jobshop here and he has managed to get me an interview for a job. I haven't had an interview for 8 months so I am well pleased with that. Damned good job too, ironically, advising the unemployed on how to find work!!!

RAS

Ok - there is no food bank in leeds - the nearest is Bradford BD1.

There is a Sikh temple in Armley at 62 TONG ROAD LEEDS LS12 1LZ, Telephone 01132636525 but this appears to be quite small.

Beeston temple is much bigger http://www.gnnsjleeds.com/content/view/33/30/ - this page lists the hours for langar - the free kitchen

Langar (Punjabi: ਲੰਗਰ, Hindi: लंगर) is the term used in the Sikh religion or in Punjab in general for common kitchen/canteen where food is served in a Gurdwara to all the visitors (without distinction of background) for free. At the langar, only vegetarian food is served, to ensure that all people, regardless of their dietary restrictions, can eat as equals. Langar is open to Sikhs and non-Sikhs alike.

I know other temples welcome people who are homeless or struggling, regardless of background. You need to take your shoes off in the porch and the food is usually delicious.

Mojisola

RAS wrote: »

I know other temples welcome people who are homeless or struggling, regardless of background. You need to take your shoes off in the porch and the food is usually delicious.

You can offer to help with the washing up or to come in early to prepare veggies for the next day to show your appreciation of their generosity.

sammyjammy

Fantastic news about the job interview. I feel so bad you have ended up in this position, your wife must be a heartless woman to have put you in this position (sorry if I'm speaking out of turn).

Fingers crossed for the interview. I think sometimes those who have experienced certain situations bring that little extra something to jobs such as you've got an interview for.

counterfeit

sammyjammy wrote: »

Fantastic news about the job interview. I feel so bad you have ended up in this position, your wife must be a heartless woman to have put you in this position (sorry if I'm speaking out of turn).

Fingers crossed for the interview. I think sometimes those who have experienced certain situations bring that little extra something to jobs such as you've got an interview for.

thank you so much sammy - comments like that lift me so much.