Anyone have experiance of temp/emergency accomidation?

freyanneke_2

I am really sorry to hear that you are in this situation. Yes, I do talk out of experience when I say you are lucky they are offering you something. Maybe it makes sense to find out what is available in the area that they are offering so you can find the best schools and maybe a new support network. Don't say no straight away, but have a look at the new address and it might not be as bad as you imagine at the moment.

Around here waiting lists are quite long and most people I know that came in temporary accommodation had first lived in a b&b or a hostel for longer than 12 months with several children.

The good news is that everyone I know that wanted to get out of temporary accommodation eventually got out and made a better life for themselves. It might be feeling the worst thing that is happening to you now, but maybe it is just a hiccup you look back on in a while like we do.

Good luck!

Hump

Assuming you're in England (though things are similar in Wales and Scotland). This is a brief idea about what the Housing Options or Homelessness Officer will be talking about - which may set your mind at rest (a bit)

You haven't mentioned how you are becoming homeless. People become homeless in a variety of ways i.e. mortgage repossession, notice served by landlord, being evicted for rent arrears by a housing association, being asked to leave the parental home etc. It matters only if the council believes you may have deliberately - intentionally - made yourself homeless. For example if you had sufficient income to pay the rent but chose to prioritise other debts first and failed to pay the rent leading to your landlord serving notice and taking steps to evict you.

What is important here is that you have a son, assuming he is school age - or younger, dependent upon you then you will be a priority need.

s188 of the Housing Act 1996 requires the council to provide you with interim - or temporary accommodation - whilst it investigates your homelessness claim if it has reason to believe you are eligible and homeless. Unfortunately the standard of interim accommodation doesn't have to be fantastic, and can be some distance from your current home.

It is important that the council makes a decision on your application and notifies you of the decision in writing. If it's a negative decision then you have the right to appeal the decision by requesting a 'review' of the decision - you can also ask for temporary accommodation to be provided whilst the review takes place.

Statistically more likely is that they - the council - will owe you the main homelessness duty. This means that they must provide you with temporary accommodation under s193 of the Housing Act 1996 until they cease that duty - usually by securing suitable accommodation which it is reasonable for you to accept. In fulfilling this duty they must always have in mind the location of the property and your needs/ circumstances.

The good news, if there is any, is that the temporary accommodation provided under s193 of the act - so that's the accommodation provided after a positive homeless decision but before they cease their homeless duty - does have to be both suitable and reasonable for you to accept - a bit more like the ultimate/ final accommodation and less like the initial interim accommodation.

Many councils now try to use off the shelf privately rented properties to fulfil their obligations - if they try this 10 miles away then make sure you are clear whether it is 1. interim (s188) temporary accommodation pending a formal decision 2. temporary (s193) accommodation pending the discharge of their full duty 3. a permanent solution

GDB2222

I sympathise with your situation, as I was once made homeless myself, when my house burnt down. Believe me, the most important thing is all being together and unharmed.

If there is a serious risk of you being temporarily rehoused 10 miles from the school, I think you should discuss that with the school now, as they may have some suggestions to make about transport. For example, is it possible that you would be entitled to transport laid on by the local authority? Anyway, the school may know.

good luck! It may all turn out much less awful than you are expecting.