Please Help BIL - Homeless in 3 days

peter999

Melissa177 wrote: »

I appreciate that it's not particularly helpful, but I'm finding it difficult to have sympathy for idle/fe*kless types who I subsidise.

Would you reach in your pocket to help this man?

Who's asking for sympathy ??

Do 60 million people answer to you because "you pay taxes" to the Government ??
Maybe all the sick should see you for your approval, assuming you're qualified to make that judgement !!

peter999

moyville

I find it dispiriting that the high and mighty on here can find it useful to despise the "f*ckless/idle types". Do you get off on that? I mean, what is it contributing to this man's problem?

Unfortunately in this instance, and without knowing too much about the details of the case, I'd say he will have to be evicted. However, thankfully we live in a society where those that drop off the bottom rung are picked up and helped.

Like others have said Shelter is a great place to start. He may have to go into a homeless shelter to be assessed in the short term, along with help with his depression from social services.

I believe, given the right support [and it certainly seems he has a good family unit around him] it may prove to be hard in the short-term but he'll come through the other end better for it.

Keep positive, keep him positive, and all the best. Keep us updated.

lynzpower

Melissa177 wrote: »

I appreciate that it's not particularly helpful, but I'm finding it difficult to have sympathy for idle/fe*kless types who I subsidise.

Would you reach in your pocket to help this man?

My advice would be not to rack up any more rent bills and move in with a friend or family. The man must be married, where does the wife figure in all this? Is she living elsewhere?

yes, I would. Its called social care.

Ensuring the most VULNERABLE in our society, ie those with illnesses and unable to function are cared for.

You clearly have absolutely no idea about how Housing and social services legislation works, but quite happy to spit your bile at someone who is clearly ill?

Maybe YOUd prefer that we had the ill and disabled street -begging instead of being supported, soyou could abuse them on the way to work by shouting " get a job" .

Lovely.

Melissa177

Hello,

I apologise for being so cynical about this man's situation - here is where I am coming from:

I know all too many people who claim incapacity benefit, who are perfectly capable of getting a job (a friend's sister has "a bad back", and can work: yet she manages to play hockey on a weekend; another friend's mother also has "a bad back" and claims housing benefit and incapacity benefit: she also has four BTL properties and recently went on holiday to Sri Lanka to work with elephants).

I grew in Yorkshire in a family who were at many times very poor - but also very proud. My parents wouldn't have dreamed of going cap in hand to the state - our financial circumstances were our responsibility, and we would work through them.

I do lack sympathy for someone who doesn't open their post for six months and then panics about the consequences. Actions have consequences - the state can't be their to pick up the tab at the end.

I'm not opposed to state benefits such as incapacity benefit, housing benefit - I wouldn't wish to see them cut. However, I do think there are a lot of people using these benefits who know, in their heart of hearts, they could really go out and get a job. We have a massive welfare dependency issue in this country now - 70% of people are entitled to some sort of benefit. This is a problem in my opinion. It slows the economic growth of the country, pumps up our debt, and is going to be a timebomb. If you want evidence, look across the water to France - slow economy, high unemployment, huge state handouts.

Finally, I was wrong to suggest that this man was f**kless and idle without knowing his true circumstances - no-one but Moyville, or perhaps his BIL know that - and I should be less quick to judge. I'm sorry.

And finally Lynzpower - of course I wouldn't wish to see a society like you suggest! But I would like to see a society in which people took more personal responsibility for their actions.

Hope this explains where I'm coming from.

Melissa

lynzpower

[QUOTEI know all too many people who claim incapacity benefit, who are perfectly capable of getting a job (a friend's sister has "a bad back", and can work: yet she manages to play hockey on a weekend; another friend's mother also has "a bad back" and claims housing benefit and incapacity benefit: she also has four BTL properties and recently went on holiday to Sri Lanka to work with elephants). ]

[/QUOTE]
I take it youve reported these people then have you?

Doozergirl

Please God do not let this turn into a debate about people that don't work for a living. The OPs brother is suffering from depression; an illness which he can't help. Knowing what some of the people on this board are like I will put my hard hat on anyway.

I too would get on the phone to Shelter asap.

Melissa177

lynzpower wrote: »

I take it youve reported these people then have you?[/QUOTE]

I don't know them personally - I just listen to my two friends whine about their respective relatives! I have suggested that they report them in the past, but neither wants to do that, for understandable reasons

seven-day-weekend

poppy10 wrote: »

Yeah, I'd like to live in a 3-bed cottage rent-free, but unfortunately I am stupid enough to work for a living and so can only afford my tiny 1-bed flat.

Not got a great deal of sympathy I'm afraid, but the council's social services dept are the way to go; you may have to wait till he is physically homeless i.e. AFTER he has been evicted. Then the council will have a duty to provide him temporary accommodation.

This man is suffereing from depression. Have you ever suffered from it? Do you know what it can be like? Yes, I know he shouldn't have got into debt, but how do you know it isn't related to his illness? It can happen to people for all sorts of reasons.

Don't judge him, his family have come on here and asked for help.

I wish to point out that my husband is a taxpayer too. Also that I pressed the thanks button by mistake.

lynzpower

back to the point in hand

I would recommend that the OP asks his local mental health social services team to undertake an assessment of need.

they will be able to liase with the houseing department to see if he is eligble for housing.

One of the potentail issues here is that he might find that the housing department refuse to house him on the grounds that he is "intentionally homless " eg, if he has not taken steps to ensure he isnt evicted. Goven he hasnt been able to face up to the situation he finds himself in it is imperitive that he has specialist mental health support to a) ensure he is not made street homeless, and b) he is getting the support and medication he needs to deal with his illness fully.

Shelter will more as likely recommend what I have, however, its good to have them on board and to an extent they can influence the social services department to ensure a good quality response is given.

In terms of his family needs ( i presume BIL & S are seperated, as he has the childs at weekends). Many children are not admitted to specialist mental health temp accomodations on safety grounds ( which tells those among us that dont have a clue what sort of places they can be) , so neutral ground or round at the wifes/ fmaily house or even mcdonalds/ park etc will have to suffice in the meanwhile.

LondonDiva

Can he not stay with family until he gets himself sorted out? Or family could help him out by contacting the LL and perhaps sitting down with all parties to see how much family could help out to pay off the outstanding amount in installments and to ensure that he pays his rent in future.

It may also be useful for him to rent somewhere cheaper (1 bed flat) until this perk up.

Has he been to the CAB about what he will need to do to pay back the money?

Good luck