Help for Homeless Guy

Dasha_2

There are many more homeless people than most of us ever know about and unfortunately many people are under the misapprehension that 1. the council must rehouse you and 2. intentionality of homeless people makes a difference to that claim.

The reality is that housing procedures are extremely complicated (I worked in statutory agencies for many years) and the best people to help are Shelter. They are fantastic - really know their stuff and will tell you exactly who is entitled to what and actually help you fight your claim.

Good luck

http://england.shelter.org.uk/advice/advice-3303.cfm is a starter assessment tool. Shelter will be able to help with the "vulnerable" bit as this is crucial to a claim.

filigree_2

This chap has a proper job, the Samaritan isn't just bunging him £5 to mow the lawn. He has a salary, a bank account and an employer to provide him with references. Why not just look for flatshares or bedsits to rent? When I was 19 and single I got turned down flat by the Council so I rented a room in a shared house instead. It wasn't a palace but it was a darn sight better than Stig of the Dump! The only stumbling block I can see is that he needs to save up a deposit, but since he has zero living expenses at the moment he must be able to save something out of his wages. Other posters have suggested solutions to finding the cash for a deposit.

Sorry, I don't get what the problem is here. Someone buy the bloke a local paper and show him the Classified Pages

Fran

filigree wrote:

The only stumbling block I can see is that he needs to save up a deposit, but since he has zero living expenses at the moment he must be able to save something out of his wages.

Sorry, I don't get what the problem is here. Someone buy the bloke a local paper and show him the Classified Pages

I would guess that to rent a room in that area would be £70 per week (?). That's if there are any available. I would also guess that a cleaning job won't be paying much. Of course he's got living expenses! He has to eat and drink and even if he were to cook a tin of beans over a gas stove he'd need to pay for the gas and the beans. Eating is more expensive when you haven't got a cooker. As he presumably hasn't got any storage he will have to buy as and when because things that need a fridge won't keep and he can't have half finished items - which in any case he would have to carry round with him.

He'd be in competition for accommodation. He'd have to contact the landlord so would have to phone - expensive from a public phone box. So even if he gets the deposit for a room, and is successful in getting it, I guess that on his present income he won't be able to afford electricity/gas/water/Council Tax and other living expenses.

Kippsy

I don't have any advice but I think what is being done here is so amazing! I'm sure that the guy at the centre of this is having his life changed by a couple of people taking the time to help.

I really admire the OP and his neighbour. All I can really say is wow.

Dasha_2

Filigree - I don't know how old you are now - or how long ago it was since you were 19 - but have you tried to rent a flat lately? That aside IF thi sguy finds a place he may well need support - there are potential problems with sustaining a tenancy i.e. how/why did the guy get into problems first time round.

ambersmita

May I just add my thanks to our good samaritan, I have a freind who lives in a homeless hostel and he says if he gets himself a job whilst living there the other occupants of the hostel would nick the money and keep nagging/bullying him until he gives in and gives them it to feed their drug habits. He says it is a vicious circle and he wished he could get out. He lives in Luton and his family who he does not get on with live up in Carlisle (where there is high unemployment - unless you want to work in the Nuclear power industry!! - he's a concious environmentalist so that's hardly the best place).

I really do think that this problem will not go away and it will get worse for our young people especially in rural areas where 2nd house owners/holiday home owners have ripped the opportunity for cheaper housing out of the hands of the locals. I really dont think building new houses and destroying the environment is the way, I really do think that a higher council tax on the 2nd homes needs to be put inplace immediately and that new ideas such as low impact ecohousing should be encouraged. I would love to buy some land and build timberframed eco housing and live in a community of helpful self sufficient folk - I works for a lot of people in Somerset.

Bogof_Babe

The OP may not be able to give this chap a room, but I would bet there are people in the area offering "digs" (i.e. a bedroom and more-or-less live as family regarding use of kitchen etc.). Especially since the government brought in the rent-a-room scheme so people can take a lodger for up to around £80 a week without having to pay any tax.

I tend to agree with the poster who said to check out the local paper and see if anything is available. This guy doesn't need a proper flat or house to himself straight away. Students make do with several sharing, and it needn't be forever.

There was an advert in our local free paper a couple of months ago, offering room plus continental breakfast for £32 p/week. I lay awake wondering how the landlord/landlady could afford to do that, but presumably they have worked out their costs.

The only thing that differentiates this homeless man from other people is his homelessness - if you see what I mean. He has all the earning capacity etc. to get himself back on track, but needs to start in small but positive ways. He doesn't sound like a no-hoper, just a chap a bit down on his luck. The country is full of genuine no-hopers, who sadly soak up most of the available funding.

THRIFTY_JO

Does anybody know how this gentleman is getting on and how he is feeling?
Everybody BUT him has had their opinion and it would be nice to know whether this is what he wanted and if he wanted this much help? Sometimes people like to do things their own way.
Jo

horace_2

Can anyone update this thread?

horace

spiderspider

I cant offer any advice but i think you are a star for what youre doing! :A