Homelessness in Gravesham - Discrimination?

[Deleted User]

Thank you. Been trying for days to ring Shelter. Tried to send an email tonight and it won't go lol. I'll keep trying. Obviously, as you'd expect, their services are in demand.

Apologies Banker, I don't always see whats in front of my face.

Update: Managed to get an email off to Shelter, also written to a couple of organisations on the list but as one was helping in many areas in south east but based in Brum, with a PO box only, I'm not overly hopeful lol. Based on the non help I got from Sanctuary (or maybe its just a lost cause, I don't know).., I'm not sure it will help, but have tried.

I do take on board what seem to be inconsistencies in the allocations policy together with the email (if you are homeless you can only be C or low need priority) but it seems to be a brick wall that works at present.

LocoLoco

deannatrois, I can only say how sorry I am that you are stuck in this awful situation. My son's autistic, I'm a single mum, no family to speak of, friends mysteriously vanished when things got tough for us, lol, very difficult to rent at all now as prices just keep climbing and the lack of services and support for those with disabilities (particularly as you have two at different stages in their lives) makes even the basic things very hard to deal with. I can only hope that Shelter have some advice to offer; it's a shocking state of affairs and you've dealt with so much already that having to keep dealing with more and more must be really wearing you out, especially with your dad in the situation he's in as well. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you and am sorry I can't do more.

[Deleted User]

Its ok Loco.., you just have to keep climbing the mountain if you can. I'm sure you do the same. My kids are wonderful, they do try. I just get peeved because if the education system was more responsive I could have been working all this time. Then I wouldn't be a scrounger. Yes I am a bit 'low energy' at the moment, that does affect things.

Just hoping I'll find a way.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Deleted User]

Arrgh. Shelter have told me they can't give this kind of advice (its case work apparently), directed me to contact Civil Legal advice who have already told me they can't help because the help I need isn't covered by legal aid.

Oh well, one email wasted lol. Two others to go.

Alice_Walker

With your focus on discrimination you are losing sight of the objective. Do you fulfil the criteria for bands A or B, and do you have evidence that supports your position?

My view is the same as pinkshoes and others. You are in a difficult situation but so are thousands of other people living with disability, there is nothing unique that makes your case stand out. I understand you want the best for your family, as we all do, but is there a significant reason why you should jump the queue?

[Deleted User]

Hmm I took on board comments earlier in the thread and not mentioned discrimination as a reason since.

Thousands of families who are homeless don't all have kids with special needs. Mine do. And I'm sorry I don't think a one size fits all C banding is appropriate.

But obviously you are entitled to your opinion. I'm sure many who don't have to deal with stressed kids all evening and all night because of the noise and then take them to school would share it. Or worry about their son falling down concrete steps.., he managed to fall in the kitchen a few days ago. Or see their shoulders drop when they are called a 'retard' by the youths in the area, and refuse to go out. But no matter, I'm sure I'm being a drama queen lol.

marliepanda

deannatrois wrote: »

Hmm I took on board comments earlier in the thread and not mentioned discrimination as a reason since.

Thousands of families who are homeless don't all have kids with special needs. Mine do. And I'm sorry I don't think a one size fits all C banding is appropriate.

But obviously you are entitled to your opinion. I'm sure many who don't have to deal with stressed kids all evening and all night because of the noise and then take them to school would share it. Or worry about their son falling down concrete steps.., he managed to fall in the kitchen a few days ago. Or see their shoulders drop when they are called a 'retard' by the youths in the area, and refuse to go out. But no matter, I'm sure I'm being a drama queen lol.

But again, as Alice says, you are not the only person who has children with special needs. Thousands of families have children with special needs.


You mentioned earlier about needing a property in a 'nice area' so your children are not too scared to go outside. Everyone would like a property in a nice area but unfortunately these houses do not often come up in council housing, at least in my area. I would personally be afraid to go out in a lot of council areas in certain areas of my borough.


You may have to accept that there is not going to be 'the perfect property' that suits you and your children exactly.

[Deleted User]

<sigh> Not looking for perfect. But somewhere where my kids aren't bullied by gangs would be good, where my older son won't break his neck would be good. Where I could reach it without having to stop to cough every flight of steps would be good, that's quite scary. where we aren't threatened by neighbours for being 'different' would be good.

My older son was strangled on two occasions on his way home from school when we lived in a bad area. I think I'd like to avoid that if i could. Yes it was daylight. All because he didn't respond as they expected when they challenged him.

Ok time to sign out.., the tide is turning lol.

Thanks so much for the help offered by previous posters.

Yes I have looked at the banding criteria, I have said this, and we should qualify for a B banding.., but are refused even to apply according to what my HO says.

Alice_Walker

deannatrois wrote: »

Hmm I took on board comments earlier in the thread and not mentioned discrimination as a reason since.

Thousands of families who are homeless don't all have kids with special needs. Mine do. And I'm sorry I don't think a one size fits all C banding is appropriate.

But obviously you are entitled to your opinion. I'm sure many who don't have to deal with stressed kids all evening and all night because of the noise and then take them to school would share it. Or worry about their son falling down concrete steps.., he managed to fall in the kitchen a few days ago. Or see their shoulders drop when they are called a 'retard' by the youths in the area, and refuse to go out. But no matter, I'm sure I'm being a drama queen lol.

I don't think anyone has called you a drama queen, but you are taking a very narrow view. Many of us have struggles, many of us have disabilities that affect everything we (try to) do in life. Please don't assume that we cannot identify with your situation simply because we don't share your viewpoint.

Have you looked to address how/ whether you meet the criteria for the higher bandings?

marliepanda

deannatrois wrote: »

<sigh> Not looking for perfect. But somewhere where my kids aren't bullied by gangs would be good, where my older son won't break his neck would be good. Where I could reach it without having to stop to cough every flight of steps would be good, that's quite scary. where we aren't threatened by neighbours for being 'different' would be good.

Ok time to sign out.., the tide is turning lol.

Thanks so much for the help offered by previous posters.

I understand this is hard but you are taking a very 'everyone is against me' stance. 'The tide turning' 'discrimination' etc and its not helpful.


I take it you want a ground floor property in a nicer area. One may come up soon, but there may be people who have physical disabilities who cannot go up stairs at all (not just with extra care, or with coughing) who need those more than you.


I am assuming your son hasn't actual been gravely injured yet (you keep mentioning him breaking his neck) but is instead maybe getting cut/bruised from falls. Can this be sorted with taking more care and going slower, surely he can manage moving around without nearly 'breaking his neck' at every turn?


If you physically could not walk up stairs, you might feel a bit aggrieved that someone who could manage it with coughing and taking extra care not to fall got it over you, who couldn't use their legs, for example.