Eviction notice served

Lucy1982_2

Hi MOT

I just thought I would tell you a little more about what i went through as a kid (and I promise I'm normal!!)

My parents divorced when I was about 8, we lost the house and Mum and I were put into emergency housing - a hostel. It's not the best 3 months of my life, but eventually we moved into our new home and things worked out ok.

I promise your kids will be ok, for all the Government goes on about single parent families, it all depends on the family. Like you my Mum gave me what she could. I made it to uni and a good job, so you and your kids will be fine.

Just make sure that you fight for everything that you can get, if you are entitled to it make sure you get it. I don't know anyone who would not want that for you and your children.

Take care hun and I will be thinking of all of you.

Gforce_2

Floss wrote: »

If a Councillor or MP asked for rules to be "bent", there could & should be a public enquiry for misuse of Council policies - they are not asking for them to be bent to suit, just adhered to and followed in a more timely fashion, working to the guidelines of investiaging a person's situation, of that person being classed as homeless 28 days prior to eviction, and having the time to have a plan in place for eviction, rather than the jumping-to-conclusion, slow & IMHO slipshod way that this Homeless Department has treated MOT.

There should be an internal investigation by the department into the delays, at the very least the Chief Exec will probably want to know why he got an MP's letter asking for something his staff should be doing on a day-to-day basis.

/

You're right Floss Councillors/MP's shouldn't ask for housing officers to deviate from the policy just because someone is giving them earache/a sob story (Not saying that Mot is doing this) but they do. They also do it when someone is in genuine need of rehousing but who's actions have made it impossible for us to award sufficient priority. I'm sure the councillors do it with the best intentions but even so they are asking us to deviate from policy.

I would be EXTREMELY surprised if the Chief Exec does anything other than pass the letter down the chain of command until it ends up with someone like me, who will then check through what has been done and what is due to be done, check we're adhering to timescales and feedback to the line manager who will then draft a letter of reply.
We don't have the spare cash for internal investigations!

I don't think the housing officer has been slipshod, if Mot had applied to me for rehousing I would have suspended her application and started the exclusion process because she has rent arrears and we'd only reinstate it if the homeless officer made us!

Floss

Which would be correct because of her arrears, but that's Housing Allocations, not Homeless - 2 different departments, on occasion dealing with people who think they are one & the same!

Our Homeless & Social Services counter gets people coming in to book a wedding or register a death or birth - we're in the next building to the Registrars but they think we're all the same & get quite snippy when asked to go next door! Oh isn't local government fun?!

Floss

Gforce_2

Floss wrote: »

Which would be correct because of her arrears, but that's Housing Allocations, not Homeless - 2 different departments, on occasion dealing with people who think they are one & the same!

Our Homeless & Social Services counter gets people coming in to book a wedding or register a death or birth - we're in the next building to the Registrars but they think we're all the same & get quite snippy when asked to go next door! Oh isn't local government fun?!

Floss

Lol tell me about it!

mumoftwins

Just back from Parent Consultations at school - DD has same teacher as last year and said she is achieving 4a in every subject (top mark is 5) and she wants to 'push' her towards 5 in Literacy particularly and everything else too if she can. She said she is exceptionally bright particularly in Literacy:T .

DS has a new teacher - man in his early 30's seems like he's good fun and on level with the kids. Whilst DS has never been as academic as DS he is doing really well too and they are supporting him with extra reading. Both have settled into the new school year really well:T

Sagaris

That's really lovely to hear - but having read your DD's posts it's obvious she's pretty bright - can only assume her brother is the same! So you must be doing something right!
I can't add anything practical to the thread but have read it all, and would just like to say how sorry I am for what you've had to put up with so far - but remember the saying 'what doesn't kill you will make you stronger' or something like that - so keep on fighting and your persistence will be rewarded.
Thinking of you all - keep posting!

teeni

Gforce wrote: »

mumoftwins wrote: »

Hi Gforce, no I don't the timescale - what do your HLO's have to work to do you know?


Sorry, I'm not that well up on the homelessness act so I'm not too sure. I know that in my area if someone in your circumstances presented as homeless and literally didn't have anywhere to go that night, then our homeless officer would find them temporary accommodation under section 188 (I think) that day and would then have 28 days to investigate further.

But they would tell you to hang on where you are until you have no choice but to leave.

Part vii of housing act states that a decision must be made within 33 days from the date of application. If the local authority fail to make a decision after that time then you can apply for a judicial review of their failure to make a decision and the court will order them to make it, Legal aid can be applied for to cover the cost of this action although a threat of it is usually enough (in my experience to ensure decision made.) The local authority is not obliged to offer you interim (temporary ) accomodationj until such time as the bailiffs warrant of execution has expired.

Many authoritys now adhere to this legistlation strictly because of the cost of providing homeless accomodation , we are very lucky in the area I work as the local authority accomodate as soon as the notice expires.

If it is more than 33 days since you applied for homeless assistance go back to your shelter office and they will help you to challenge this.

good luck with everything

teeni

supersavershal

mumoftwins wrote: »

Floss,

Is this letter from my MP likely to go against me with the HLO? She and her dept may well be in for a reprimand???

I had similar letters when I had tried to secure a garage outside my back gate (it had been empty for 8yrs).After 8 yrs I had had enough I contacted my mp and had the keys withing 48hrs of receiving the letters mp had written.I know housing is a bit different but I have hopes for you now mp is involved.Good luck im rooting for you.
P.S. The council claimed giving me the keys had nothing to do with mp stepping in but it seems funny after 8yrs they sorted it out once mp was asking questions.

italian-tony

Hi, remember me? I'm a friend of MOT. Having spent 2 hours reading all the messages since I last visited & shed many a tear, my faith in human nature has been restored. What a wonderful lot you all are! Reading the messages posted by MOT's DD really brought a lump to my throat. She is an absolutely fabulous girl and MOT and I are very proud of her. I am so pleased that MOT and her twins are ia part of my life. DD is very like me in that she is very creative & loves writing - it shows doesn't it? DS is a great lad, maybe not so academic as his sister, more practical, but he is a battler and very caring and attentive. Probably don't need to tell you all how much your messages and advice are appreciated, but thanks anyway on behalf of MOT. 'You are all doing very well' - now let us hope that MOT is soon 'Being served'.
:A

Floss

Thank you, Young Mr Grace!