Pregnant & live in a Hostel Please Help

have2save

Thank you everyone for your kind replies. Any advice is a great help to me as I am getting so stressed out at the moment. The idea about asking my midwife and GP for a letter is a good idea. Do you think that they would go for it? What would I ask them to write in there?

vicki_b

you could get your doctor to say that the hostel isnt an ideal place to bring a new born baby home to and this is causing you and your partner a great deal of stress and anxiety- my initial letter from a doctor didnt work as the council said a doctor wasnt high up enough to count so my doctor referred me to a mental health social worker to write me a letter. the doctors letter then counted and the two letters moved me up into high priority band B. if you go online you get check your councils banding explanations and this will explain what people can refer you and write you letters. i have lived in a hostel myself and i know that you should be in the urgent priority band. have you got a keyworker at the hostel? you really need to give her a kick up the bum!

actually know i've thought about it, your partner should try and get referred to a mental health social worker and get them to write a letter about his depression as they can say the housing situation is making his condition worse

Larumbelle

Hi have2save

I have nothing to add to what others have said, other than to tell you that my thoughts are with you and I really hope you get somewhere sorted out, and fast.

Use ANY contacts you have, doctors, MP etc. Kick up a massive stink. Get any family and friends to complain to your MP as well. That people are in this sort of situation is a national disgrace and I am sure that they will feel the same.

I don't know whether Barnados or the NSPCC (i think they work together now) can offer any help? It is definitely worth asking


:grouphug:

astonsmummy

Hi
where abouts do you live?
Where we are it's usually a 1 year wait in a hostel for a flat, i waited 10 months in a temporary 1 bed flat but moved in when i was a few months pregnant and got my first permanent flat when my son was 6 months old.
Everyone has given good advice, you wont know if it works unless you try.
I hope everything goes well for you, keep us updated.
Oh and congratulations on the babby :j

Scarlett1

what about privately renting ? you will get HB and CTC and possibly help with the bond.

viktory

I lived in a top floor, tiny bedsit for 6 weeks with my 2 week old daughter, then moved to a hostel where I lived for 18 months. I also had to share the cooking and bathroom facilities with three other couples. I was then moved to a 17th floor tower block in a rough area.

Sounds unsympathetic and I don't mean it to, but the point I am trying to make is that the councils don't have that many properties and if someone is genuinely homeless, then they have to take what they can get - even if it not what you would choose - and thank the Lord that you are not on the streets. That is the joy of social housing.

If the place is really dirty (and not just as clean as you would like) then by all means bring it to your Housing Officer's attention.

Fran

viktory wrote: »

.....councils don't have that many properties and if someone is genuinely homeless, then they have to take what they can get - even if it not what you would choose ......

.......If the place is really dirty (and not just as clean as you would like) then by all means bring it to your Housing Officer's attention.

When you have got somewhere if you have reasons for moving you can stay on the housing list and make sure you are on Housing Association lists in your area separately too. For instance if you were rehoused in a tower block your reasons would be high floor with toddler plus partner's depression if moving would improve it.

If you can't get any joy from Housing Officer or whoever's responsible in the hostel regarding conditions you live in, contact environmentsl health.

Did you contact Shelter? They are the experts on homelessness and would know of all the possibilities in your area.

It's natural to be over-anxious when you're pregnant too and to want your 'nest' to be the best possible, so when things start moving (you start moving!) you should feel more relaxed.

krisskross

Where were you living before? Why did you have to leave?

Is there no way you can privately rent? Or are you prepared to wait it out for council/housing association property? This may be your best chance for permanent social housing and if that is what you want then I think you will probably have to 'serve your time'.

mummytofour

To be honest the OP didnt come on here to tell us all why she is where she is or to be given stories of others in worse situations.
The OP is just about to give birth and her whole world it upside down, all she has asked for is if there is a way to push her up the list,not to much to ask is it?

All I can advice is that where I used to live as well as the council holding the homelss list which they forward on to the H/A, the H/A themselves have seprate lists so it maybe worth contacting them and seeing if they can help you direct?

I know that living in a hostel is not the best start to motherhood, but it is only for a short while and if long term you can get a council place that you can call home then it will be worth it.

viktory

mummytofour wrote: »

To be honest the OP didnt come on here to tell us all why she is where she is or to be given stories of others in worse situations.
The OP is just about to give birth and her whole world it upside down, all she has asked for is if there is a way to push her up the list,not to much to ask is it?

All I can advice is that where I used to live as well as the council holding the homelss list which they forward on to the H/A, the H/A themselves have seprate lists so it maybe worth contacting them and seeing if they can help you direct?

I know that living in a hostel is not the best start to motherhood, but it is only for a short while and if long term you can get a council place that you can call home then it will be worth it.

The more information we have, the better we are able to advise. Stories of others in similar, or worse, situations can be helpful as they demonstrate there is light at the end of the tunnel and that others have been there, done it and survived.

I appreciate that the OP would like to be pushed up the list and there is no reason she should not do all she can to facilitate this. However, there are bound to be many, many others in equally difficult situations that need to be rehomed as quickly as possible. The council has to prioritise according to need.

BTW, Housing Associations will only house once the council has nominated, so although it is an excellent idea to be sure that you are on the HA lists, there is little point in contacting them directly. Also make sure you are very flexible with areas etc. Being picky will only delay things.