Potentially Homeless 18yr old in full time education Who needs help ASAP!

Snakey

xylophone wrote: »

I have to say that I find your aunt's attitude very difficult to understand - do you know what is at the root of it?

I can't speak for the OP's situation but some people are just like that. My mother kicked me out when I was seventeen, halfway through my A levels. She knew I didn't have anywhere to go, but all she could see was how much nicer and cheaper life would be for her if I wasn't her problem any more.

She tried to do it to my sister the following year. My sister, being a completely different person from me, refused to leave. My mother did nothing, and my sister moved out the following year when she was good and ready (she and her fiance bought a house together, which she couldn't do until she was eighteen). So, OP, would digging your heels in and refusing to leave be an option? Or would you just come home one day to find the locks changed and all your stuff on the front lawn?

Presumably she can continue to claim child allowance for you as long as you are under 19 and in full-time education, so while it might be inconvenient for her and anger her on principle it's not as if you would be a financial burden - the marginal cost of having you around must be minimal.

I cannot warn you enough against the horrible big wide world out there. I hit that age before the internet, and was incorrectly advised that I could not get any sort of benefit until I was eighteen. I ended up literally homeless for several weeks, then dossing on someone's floor in a bail hostel, and then moving in with a man who turned out to be abusive and other things. It wrecked my education, my social life, my self-esteem and my career plans and I was in my mid-twenties before I got myself back on track. If you can stay at your aunt's, or your brother's, even if it is horrible and you are not wanted there, you should try to do so. Keep yourself out of the system, and keep yourself off the streets.

Caz3121

Helpneededasap wrote: »

During my gap year I'm planning to work, as I've got a scholarship offer to play basketball in Atlanta the year after!

what will this scholarship give you? flights, accommodation and living costs, fees?
Will your working year need to support you for that year or will you also need to save for your USA trip?

ohreally

Whats motivating your aunt to do this, is it financial?

Suarez

TELLIT01 wrote: »

He's currently in full time education.

Income Support on the basis of estrangement & Full Time Non Advanced Education may be the way to go.

Plenty of people work part time evenings and weekends

Suarez

I must have missed it..

refcee

Hi,

It might be worth seeing if social services have any obligations towards you. Depending on your circumstances they may have a responsibility to support you up to 21 (a la the Leaving Care Act 2000).

If you have or have had a social worker they may be able to help.

magicstrawberry

refcee wrote: »

Hi,

It might be worth seeing if social services have any obligations towards you. Depending on your circumstances they may have a responsibility to support you up to 21 (a la the Leaving Care Act 2000).

If you have or have had a social worker they may be able to help.

Unfortunately not unless he has been in care for at least 13 weeks from the age of 14 he isn't "eligible" for help under the act. However it may be worth contacting the local social services team to see if they know of anything else that might be accessed i.e charity support etc

http://www.anationalvoice.org/info/rights/children-leaving-care-act

refcee

Yes, that's why I said 'depending on [his] circumstances'. We don't know whether this has been the case or not.

patanne

I am really sorry for your situation and hope that you do find a good way through it. I am now going to put my nasty suspicious horrible head on (it is definitely not intended to upset just make you think).

1. Have you seen your mothers will if she had one.

Surely social workers would have investigated before you were allowed to remain with your aunt. Maybe if you try locating them it may help you find a way through as they would not want to be seen as making a wrong decision. I have to say that the only reasons I can see for throwing a teenager out on the streets would be if they were somehow threatening the security of me and the rest of the family.

2. What do you really know of your father. You & your brother were only 7 & 9. Are you sure he did what he was accused of or did he just decide not to fight. Would he be prepared, if not to house you, to put his hand in his pocket to help. Can you be sure that he didn't just walk away from a situation with which he could not cope? Maybe even thinking that it was the best thing for you.

What we see of the world as children is often a distorted picture. Perhaps you should ask yourself why your aunt took you in in the first place.

I hope you find some happiness soon, because living that house with your aunt cannot have been a happy place to which all children should be entitled.

SnooksNJ

I would skip the gap year and try to sign up for classes at UGA? You have about a month before the Spring Semester starts.