Benefit claiments being discriminated against housing

mattcanary

BigAunty wrote: »

Why is that? She has a relationship breakdown caused by his alcoholism and documented proof of his threats and abuse? She has a dependent? Does the council expect her to stay put despite the Police being called twice for his threatening behaviour and receiving up to 200 abusive texts per day?

I was just looking at the post included in your link.
If the above is true, then of course she may well be classed as statutorily homeless and so the council may well have a duty to rehouse her (after doing their investigations - which may take weeks and can involve a stay in temporary accommodation such as a bed and breakfast in the meantime).
She can't however um and aah about whether she should give up her home though (which she seems to be doing). The council will only entertain a homelessness application if she says she is homeless, after all.

BigAunty

mattcanary wrote: »

She can't however um and aah about whether she should give up her home though (which she seems to be doing). The council will only entertain a homelessness application if she says she is homeless, after all.

Your advice is sound but that observation is a little harsh.

She wanted to stay in the family rented property to protect her daughter and herself from being uprooted from the family home, losing her job, changing schools and because her HB entitlement meant she could afford to stay there while her ex could not on his own.

However, her ex refused to move out and became aggressive so she sought council advice about her options.

Then he subsequently agreed to move out but then has done nothing about it, has a history of not taking action and squandering his disposable income on alcohol so there's apparently little chance of him saving towards a new deposit.

So she's stuck between a rock and a hard place.