Really in need of housing advice, please help

homeisthecalm

I am aware that this is probably the wrong place, I do apologies in advance.

Hello,

I have been living with my (now ex) partner for around 18 months, yet I can no longer live with him due to verbal abuse. This is somewhat more dangerous since I'm currently 4 weeks pregnant. I am 17 (18 in September), I suffer with Psychosis and because of this, my Mum is refusing to allow me to live in the family home, through fear of small children living there seeing what I go through. She is adamant about this, as lovely as she is.

My Grandmother has agreed to have me for a week max, and I have now been there two days so time is ticking. Monday I will have to find something, anything.

Will I be housed fairly quickly or will they class me as already having a roof over my head? Will social services get involved? It is to my understanding that they will because I'm technically still classed as a Young Person in need, and they could well be involved until I reach 21, yet if I wasn't just shy of my 18th, they wouldn't get involved?

My main issue is I am not down as living with my partner (I do not work anymore and he owns the property), but will I get into trouble for this? Will he?

These have been an extremely confusing few years and I'm trying my best to stay afloat, yet feel as if I'm now sinking completely

divadee

Do you have a community mental health team that deal with your psychosis issue? If so they should be your first phone call. I would also suggest you visit your GP as soon as you can as depending on what medication you are on for your illness it may need adjusting.

I would think social services may well be involved but not necessarily. It all depends on what your mental health team say. Are you seeing the camhs team in your area?

homeisthecalm

Hiya,

I have been waiting 10 weeks now for an appointment, and still no reply. My GP has followed this up himself twice and I have still had nothing through.

I don't have the support of a mental health team, just my GP (of whom specializes within MH and gynecology).

My medication is great at the moment and my illness is probably at the best it has been for a little while. It is still very difficult day to day though, hence me giving up employment.

divadee

Is that 10 weeks for a camhs appointment?

Does your GP know you are now pregnant? If not you need to go and see them urgently. This may help with getting you referred quicker but maybe not as camhs funding has been so severely cut that all areas seem to have extreme waiting lists.

If social services do get involved then there is no reason to be scared or frightened. They are there to help you and help the baby. They want a good outcome for you. They can help with housing and benefits and getting all the help you may be entitled to. So they can actually be a good thing for helping you navigate the process.

Please make sure you try and see your GP in the next couple of days. It will get the ball rolling for you.

Argghhh

its a hard one - if its unsafe you will have to get out but where to is limited due to mh issues. You will need your grandmother to tell the social services she is kicking you out otherwise you are indeed homed. If you were to stay in the house you are at until the baby arrives a court might find in favour of you staying there and him leaving but its also fair to presume he might go for custody of child stating your mh is an issue since even your mum wont have you around her young children - its difficult to see the best option to choose i would try and get grandma to house you long term or get her to officially kick you out

Detroit

I think you need to contact an agency for support and advocacy, as this is a huge amount to manage on your own.

Check out the Action For Children website, sorry can't post the link, but if you Google 'Action for children support for teenage mums' you'll get there.
There should be details about the help they can provide and how to contact them.

homeisthecalm

Why would the court find it in favour of me staying there? My name isn't registered there, nor do I own the mortgage. That's a very odd system if they're willing to make a homeowner give up his property for someone he isn't even legally tied to.

homeisthecalm

I have always thought it is wise to try and stay out of getting involved with social services. My suspicions seem even more backed up since forms (of many different natures), ask about criminal records and below it is usually a question of 'Are you involved with social services?'


I am aware that they're there to help as well as take children away (They cannot take me away, I am an adult), but I thought it was still a bit sticky to have a record of being with them?


It would be good if someone could clear this up for me.


Thank you

silvercar

My council has a young homeless team and offers supported living accommodation to people in need. I know they have one house with 25 room for single women age 16-25 in a supported living unit.

You need to contact the council and see what is available in your area.

chocolate.buttons

Definitely worth chasing up the mental health team and informing them that you are pregnant (congrats btw!) as they should prioritise your case due to this.
Best of luck.

missbiggles1

chocolate.buttons wrote: »

Definitely worth chasing up the mental health team and informing them that you are pregnant (congrats btw!) as they should prioritise your case due to this.
Best of luck.

I'm sure there should be some kind of smiley to go with that comment.