Getting a friend help to get council housing.

DomRavioli

dekaspace wrote: »

The main problem with friend is he gets cofnused due to MH, and he would phone up someone like DWP and get told he can't get benefit and believe them so not apply, same for social work who keep telling him hes not entitled to one but thats because hes not explaining himself well enough (he like another friend shows signs of autism)

The current house is in middle of nowhere, nearest neighbour is about 3 miles away, no bus routes nearby and he needs regular check ups and hospital appointments and right now his nearest hospital is about 2 hours away by bus (and 10 miles to get to town where bus leaves from so add another hour or so)

So I'd say his home is not suitable. But it is suitable. He chose to live there, nobody forced him to.

Right now he claims nothing as he gets confused, I have told him to claim ESA and he phones and gets confused so leaves it. Then he needs help.

With him being sectioned in past and he even has fits in morning every day he has medical needs.

Not denying he has medical issues, but that doesn't change his housing situation. having fits does not change his priority, nor does living with a family member in a rural location.

The house has to be dangerous to him to get any form of priority, like a wheelchair user living on the second floor with no lift.

He needs real help. I suggest you put your efforts into helping him with that instead of being on here.

dekaspace

chesky wrote: »

He lives in Scotland and you're in Hampshire - how often do you actually see your friend?

Hampshire? I don't live there does my profile say that or something?

DomRavioli wrote: »

Not denying he has medical issues, but that doesn't change his housing situation. having fits does not change his priority, nor does living with a family member in a rural location.

The house has to be dangerous to him to get any form of priority, like a wheelchair user living on the second floor with no lift.

He needs real help. I suggest you put your efforts into helping him with that instead of being on here.

He had no other choice, his health problems at the time required someone to constantly monitor him, his brother lived in a hostel and his sister in a bedsit and neither could look after him, his dad had a house but outright said since day one he didn't want him there and felt pressured into taking him.

He didn't choose to live there, he had no other choice, he didn't want to move from a town with a nearby hospital and no work, he wanted to continue working but was unable to etc.

So he was sick enough pretty much be forced out of work and get sick pay and employers not want him back.

I don't think he would get a instant house but with his issues he should get more than zero points.

Lanzarote1938

dekaspace wrote: »

He had no other choice, his health problems at the time required someone to constantly monitor him, his brother lived in a hostel and his sister in a bedsit and neither could look after him, his dad had a house but outright said since day one he didn't want him there and felt pressured into taking him.

He didn't choose to live there, he had no other choice, he didn't want to move from a town with a nearby hospital and no work, he wanted to continue working but was unable to etc.

He still has no work so why move to somewhere where he was less likely to have access to medical, social services and work when his condition improves.

So did his very unwilling landlord (father) constantly monitor him? What constant monitoring are you suggesting your friend needs?

To be frank it looks as if you are hoping that someone on here will wave a magic wand. Perhaps he could move in with you. You have his welfare at heart and could help him with negotiating the various welfare agencies.

dekaspace

Lanzarote1938 wrote: »

He still has no work so why move to somewhere where he was less likely to have access to medical, social services and work when his condition improves.

So did his very unwilling landlord (father) constantly monitor him? What constant monitoring are you suggesting your friend needs?

To be frank it looks as if you are hoping that someone on here will wave a magic wand. Perhaps he could move in with you. You have his welfare at heart and could help him with negotiating the various welfare agencies.

Are you getting confused? He CURRENTLY lives in middle of nowhere where its around 10 miles to nearest town, about 45 miles from nearest hospital, if he moves away he will be far closer to hospital, doctors, social work etc as well as being able to travel if need be.

I don't know why you think I hope someone waves a magic wand, im just saying the situation isn't as simple as you thought, I could go far far deeper into issues like I will just hint at now, i.e when things got so bad he was addicted to legal highs and drinking heavily, and living with his dad means hes degrading back a little since the stress from his dad and living in middle of nowhere, that should hopefully help his application.

After he was released from sectioning he had to be checked that he didn't take legal highs or drink, or harm himself in many ways as he was having those fits, to point of before his sectioning he went into hospital many times for mini strokes.

His father wasn't bothered about monitoring him and acted like it was a nuisance to do so.

DomRavioli

dekaspace wrote: »

Hampshire? I don't live there does my profile say that or something?



He had no other choice, his health problems at the time required someone to constantly monitor him, his brother lived in a hostel and his sister in a bedsit and neither could look after him, his dad had a house but outright said since day one he didn't want him there and felt pressured into taking him. There would have been aftercare in place after his hospital stay which would have provided safe accomodation and a care package if necessary; again he chose to go, his dad didn't want him to go there but he chose to.

He didn't choose to live there, he had no other choice, he didn't want to move from a town with a nearby hospital and no work, he wanted to continue working but was unable to etc. Then why did he? There are support services and aftercare for a reason. He chose not to take those, and they would have been explained pretty well to him during his stay.

So he was sick enough pretty much be forced out of work and get sick pay and employers not want him back.

I don't think he would get a instant house but with his issues he should get more than zero points. Why? His house is not dangerous, there are no immediate or predictable future issues with the property. He chose to live where he does, and he will have to wait for something to come up and him be accepted for social housing if he wants to move.

See above in red. You still don't get that he will NOT get priority - this is reserved for those who need it due to them either being unable to return home as it is not safe, or gaining a disability that makes their current home unsafe - as his home is perfectly safe, he gets nothing.

Why don't you look into supported accomodation? Sounds like he would need that over social housing anyway given what you have said as I would not be confident he could manage his own tenancy. Local authority should have a list of contacts for him, as well as his aftercare team, social workers, MH team, CAB and even the local MIND.

DomRavioli

dekaspace wrote: »

Are you getting confused? He CURRENTLY lives in middle of nowhere where its around 10 miles to nearest town, about 45 miles from nearest hospital, if he moves away he will be far closer to hospital, doctors, social work etc as well as being able to travel if need be.

I don't know why you think I hope someone waves a magic wand, im just saying the situation isn't as simple as you thought, I could go far far deeper into issues like I will just hint at now, i.e when things got so bad he was addicted to legal highs and drinking heavily, and living with his dad means hes degrading back a little since the stress from his dad and living in middle of nowhere, that should hopefully help his application. Not a chance that will happen. "stress" because you live with your family is literally laughable. There is a severe shortage of social housing of all kinds - he will be last on the list as he has somewhere safe to live.

After he was released from sectioning he had to be checked that he didn't take legal highs or drink, or harm himself in many ways as he was having those fits, to point of before his sectioning he went into hospital many times for mini strokes.

His father wasn't bothered about monitoring him and acted like it was a nuisance to do so.

Again see above in red. Previous addiction to substances doesn't get you priority. TIAs don't get you priority. Not even being sectioned gets you priority. Stress because your father put a roof over your head (regardless of how nice or nasty he is) doesn't get you priority.

You need an actual reason why they can't live there, like it's dangerous (as in actually dangerous, repairs not carried out, leaking boiler etc), been kicked out (will need letter written and signed by parent in that instance and no guarantee they will rehouse either in temporary or permanent accom), or severe overcrowding. He doesn't fit any of the criteria to get priority on any of the information given, so he won't get any.

Social housing is in seriously short supply, he's a single male with no priority. He isn't going to get housed anytime soon unless everyone else on the list keels over and dies, or you find alternatives.

Lanzarote1938

dekaspace wrote: »

Are you getting confused? He CURRENTLY lives in middle of nowhere where its around 10 miles to nearest town, about 45 miles from nearest hospital, if he moves away he will be far closer to hospital, doctors, social work etc as well as being able to travel if need be.





His father wasn't bothered about monitoring him and acted like it was a nuisance to do so.

Why did he move from the city to live with his very unwilling father. He did have all the medical stuff etc and chose to isolate himself and foist himself on his parent.

If I had been the parent I wouldn't want him living with me with all the issues you describe. Especially as the son has no income to contribute anything to the cost of an extra adult.

dekaspace

Lanzarote1938 wrote: »

Why did he move from the city to live with his very unwilling father. He did have all the medical stuff etc and chose to isolate himself and foist himself on his parent.

If I had been the parent I wouldn't want him living with me with all the issues you describe. Especially as the son has no income to contribute anything to the cost of an extra adult.

The same parent that foisted himself onto my friend on many occasions whenever he had health problems, or wanted favours done, that commited benefit fraud for 20 years, that is selling the family home and under value even though half of its not his, shows the sort of person he is! And logically since hes getting money for sale of a house and part owned by my friend he doesn't even want to put a roof over my friends head or contribute to a small deposit to move, and his dad was into multiple drugs and only in past 2 years seems to have stopped, im talking taking acid, cannabis, mushrooms, cocaine, you can imagine the sort of person he is like to live with especially when my friend told me he was the one that got him and his junkie brother into drugs in the first place!

My friend pretty much paid most of his sickness pay to his dad for keep when he was there despite having debts and shockingly when the dad drove down to get my friend he made my friend drive back even knowing friend had his license on hold for a few months until his health could be checked out.

Sorry for that long post but it details the sort of person whom his dad is and how bad it is to be living with him.

When he lived in the other town (not a city) he had a lot of problems too, he was on wrong insulin for years and only found out after having that stroke, promised social workers who "forgot" about him, funnily enough his junkie brother who recently started taking heroin after years of taking ketamine and cocaine got put into social housing for being vulnerable due to his drink and drug history.

That is ALSO why he wanted to move, his brother used to kick door in when he was high and use friends house as a place to sleep, smashed his furniture, stole money. bank cards, tv etc from my friend and kept offering my friend drugs, not out of being nice but so he had someone to do it with and expecting him to pay for it.

So whilst its doubtful he will get somewhere at very least he should get more than zero points, he would be happy to stay in a hostel too just long enough for him to save for a deposit.

DomRavioli wrote: »

Again see above in red. Previous addiction to substances doesn't get you priority. TIAs don't get you priority. Not even being sectioned gets you priority. Stress because your father put a roof over your head (regardless of how nice or nasty he is) doesn't get you priority.

You need an actual reason why they can't live there, like it's dangerous (as in actually dangerous, repairs not carried out, leaking boiler etc), been kicked out (will need letter written and signed by parent in that instance and no guarantee they will rehouse either in temporary or permanent accom), or severe overcrowding. He doesn't fit any of the criteria to get priority on any of the information given, so he won't get any.

Social housing is in seriously short supply, he's a single male with no priority. He isn't going to get housed anytime soon unless everyone else on the list keels over and dies, or you find alternatives.

Someone who was sectioned for mental health problems not much more than a year ago, and had mental health problems for years is not just "stress"

The system is understandably broken though as in as he has a roof over his head thats all that matters, will write more in reply to other person.

DomRavioli wrote: »

See above in red. You still don't get that he will NOT get priority - this is reserved for those who need it due to them either being unable to return home as it is not safe, or gaining a disability that makes their current home unsafe - as his home is perfectly safe, he gets nothing.

Why don't you look into supported accomodation? Sounds like he would need that over social housing anyway given what you have said as I would not be confident he could manage his own tenancy. Local authority should have a list of contacts for him, as well as his aftercare team, social workers, MH team, CAB and even the local MIND.

Again people don't know the whole picture, I don't expect him to get priority as such, but to get zero points means somethings not right because with his previous history (which he is meant to get support for)

I never said the friend didn't contribute but he gets no benefits, his sick pay ran out about 2 months ago, he was paying his dads bills pretty much before that and doing all his dads housework, basically his dad took advantage.

He lives in the Scottish borders heres like 2 small towns is a 30 mile radius and a few villages which is why they have to travel over the border to Cumbria to get hospital care.

To be clear I hope I don't sound rude there just saying theres reasons for him doing things.

elsien

Section 2 or section 3?
Section 3 may have qualified him to support with aftercare, section 2 would qualify him for nothing. Where did he go when he left hospital?

To put it in perspective, I know someone who was under section for over 12 months and was unable to get a council property because even with clearly identified MH needs there are not enough single person properties to go round. Another who had ECT for severe depression was told the wait would be over a year and to look for private rental.
Being sectioned (S3) may help with supported accommodation if needed at the time of discharge. But there are people discharged from MH units as street homeless who get emergency B&B if they are lucky. Your friend has a house. It's not ideal but it's more than a lot of people have.
Perhaps your friend could look if there is an advocacy service that could help him access services etc more effectively. Or go to CAB for benefit help. Does he have a CPN? They should be helping to support with some of this, and could support his application with regards to evidencing vulnerability.

dekaspace

elsien wrote: »

Section 2 or section 3?
Section 3 may have qualified him to support with aftercare, section 2 would qualify him for nothing.

To put it in perspective, I know someone who was under section for over 12 months and was unable to get a council property because even with clearly identified MH needs there are not enough single person properties to go round. Another who had ECT for severe depression was told the wait would be over a year and to look for private rental.
Being sectioned (S3) may help with supported accommodation if needed at the time of discharge. But there are people discharged from MH units as street homeless who get emergency B&B if they are lucky. Your friend has a house. It's not ideal but it's more than a lot of people have.
Perhaps your friend could look if there is an advocacy service that could help him access services etc more effectively. Or go to CAB for benefit help.

Tough one, without me being there to hold his hand as such hes going to struggle, his nearest CAB will be about 20 miles away if not further, assuming he even gets help as theres waiting lists of months in his area.,

I never got the full picutre myself when he was sectioned, but I do know they contacted all friends and family asking if they could take friend in as he couldn't be by himself.

As far as I know he was meant to get a lot of aftercare but as he lives in middle of nowhere literally, he gets nothing, his nearest hospital is technically another country, and is also a different region, his nearest actual town and not a village is about 10 or 15 miles away and its not that big (population of around 4 thousand), nearest main town is about 30 miles away which has things.

It's mostly the fact he lives in a very rural area of farmlands that its hard to find anything.

It's also a shame that things got to where they have, as due to losing his job he got into debt but if he kept his job he could of saved for a deposit and moved away, I wrote in past that before he was sectioned for about 2 years previous (since his mum died) he wanted to move back up to Scotland and in his own flat as his bills were far too high where he was (about 90 mile round trip every day for minmum wage job) yet his employer had jobs available 2 miles from me in a area of cheap rent but even though he had stroke his employer didn't want to transfer him (saying it was because he had missed so much work recently, well of course since it was because he had a stroke!)

The biggest step for him now is to get benefits, as by being thrifty a few weeks he can save enough for a deposit and move.