Help, Please.

whatsthepointinthat

I was diagnosed with PTSD last year and had a housing assessment by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The housing officer was absolutely awful and made faces that I took as her not believing me. She rolled her eyes at points and seemed to genuinely not care. She acted as if I was someone that was just trying to jump on the council bandwagon. I had told her due to being r**ed in a flat when I was younger I couldn't set foot in an apartment or flat without it having a massive impact on me so living in one would be out of the question. That was when the housing officer rolled her eyes. She had spoken to my counsellor that confirmed this and had all the evidence she needed as proof of my PTSD.

I was not working due to my PTSD after working for 15+ years, it meant I couldn't afford the place I was living but because I had a partner he was expected to take on the strain of it all. I was awarded 0 points by the NIHE despite my complex needs through PTSD essentially making me a vulnerable adult. She knew I was in receipt of PIP.

I moved for my partner's job, the home I am in currently is tied to his job. We have decided to split which means I will essentially be homeless within a month. I am now in another part of the UK and fighting the NIHE to get back home. I don't have anywhere to stay when I go home so will essentially be homeless.

I presented as homeless via email to the NIHE and explained the situation in detail. I received a response from them to say I would have to physically present to them as homeless. I sent a sarccy email back asking if they would like me to do that before or after I'm physically left with nowhere to live and no money due to only receiving PIP at the moment.

I contacted Housing Rights and the Equality Commission NI about being discriminated against. Housing Rights agreed I should have had more than 0 points given the evidence that I had presented to them originally. Since what has happened means a change of circumstances and I can't physically present that they should be able to go ahead with the homeless assessment given the situation.

Housing Rights have informed me I should pass the four tests for homelessness which gives me 70 points and that the NIHE has a duty of care to me because I'm considered a vulnerable adult. They should find me accommodation that suits my needs temporarily (3 choices) and one that is close to my family so that they can get to me if need be. It should be close to my psychiatrist (which luckily enough is close to my family).

What I want to know is, are they discriminating against me given my disability? I had asked Housing Rights if they were discriminating against me and others because they asked if I had children and I advised there was an issue that made conceiving difficult for my partner and I. I felt this should have been taken into consideration.

The whole thing has hit me really hard, I don't know what to do and I'm really scared. It's already going to cost me £500 to get home (that's with selling everything I can, too) and if I have to find private rental it'll be an extra £1000 (two months rent for the area near my family and most areas near my family).

Any advice you can give would really help me. I don't know where I'm pulling this money from as no one I know could help to loan me it. My plan when I get home is to get a part-time job or if I can manage it full-time as I believe it'll help my mental health.

I should mention I have a support dog, too. Not sure if that makes any difference.

Comms69

whatsthepointinthat wrote: »

I was diagnosed with PTSD last year and had a housing assessment by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. The housing officer was absolutely awful and made faces that I took as her not believing me. She rolled her eyes at points and seemed to genuinely not care. - this sounds like a complaint to the council, but please be aware that the majority of people here do not know or understand NI law. AND that this is more a benefits question than general housing She acted as if I was someone that was just trying to jump on the council bandwagon. I had told her due to being r**ed in a flat when I was younger I couldn't set foot in an apartment or flat without it having a massive impact on me so living in one would be out of the question. - That seems extreme, please do seek help with this That was when the housing officer rolled her eyes. She had spoken to my counsellor that confirmed this and had all the evidence she needed as proof of my PTSD.

I was not working due to my PTSD after working for 15+ years, it meant I couldn't afford the place I was living but because I had a partner he was expected to take on the strain of it all. - that is correct as far as I understand it. If that is still the situation then you will be get the same conclusion I was awarded 0 points by the NIHE despite my complex needs through PTSD essentially making me a vulnerable adult. She knew I was in receipt of PIP. - PIP is available for all sorts of things, I don't believe it acts as a gateway to other benefits

I moved for my partner's job, the home I am in currently is tied to his job. We have decided to split which means I will essentially be homeless within a month. I am now in another part of the UK and fighting the NIHE to get back home. I don't have anywhere to stay when I go home so will essentially be homeless. - Again I don't believe that they have an obligation to house you. You can go to the local council to seek accomodation

I presented as homeless via email to the NIHE and explained the situation in detail. I received a response from them to say I would have to physically present to them as homeless. -yes that is correct I sent a sarccy email back asking if they would like me to do that before or after I'm physically left with nowhere to live - after. You aren't homeless today. and no money due to only receiving PIP at the moment. - you will be entitled to other benefits

I contacted Housing Rights and the Equality Commission NI about being discriminated against. - on what basis? Housing Rights agreed I should have had more than 0 points given the evidence that I had presented to them originally. - irrelevant now as you aren't there Since what has happened means a change of circumstances and I can't physically present that they should be able to go ahead with the homeless assessment given the situation. - I'm surprised, but perhaps the council will now act

Housing Rights have informed me I should pass the four tests for homelessness which gives me 70 points and that the NIHE has a duty of care to me because I'm considered a vulnerable adult. - that doesn't seem correct, you aren't even in the country They should find me accommodation that suits my needs temporarily (3 choices) and one that is close to my family so that they can get to me if need be. It should be close to my psychiatrist (which luckily enough is close to my family).

What I want to know is, are they discriminating against me given my disability? - not because of your disability, and that is the key test I had asked Housing Rights if they were discriminating against me and others because they asked if I had children and I advised there was an issue that made conceiving difficult for my partner and I. - how is that relevant, it's a yes or no question I felt this should have been taken into consideration. - not at all

The whole thing has hit me really hard, I don't know what to do and I'm really scared. It's already going to cost me £500 to get home (that's with selling everything I can, too) and if I have to find private rental it'll be an extra £1000 (two months rent for the area near my family and most areas near my family). - can your family help? The alternative is you go to the local council, as they have the duty of care

Any advice you can give would really help me. I don't know where I'm pulling this money from as no one I know could help to loan me it. My plan when I get home is to get a part-time job or if I can manage it full-time as I believe it'll help my mental health. - But if you can work, why don't you do that now?

I should mention I have a support dog, too. Not sure if that makes any difference.

I really think that you should post on the benefits board where people are more experienced.


I do think that what you're expecting may be too much, but I'm not an expert on NI law

whatsthepointinthat

Comms69 wrote: »

I really think that you should post on the benefits board where people are more experienced.


I do think that what you're expecting may be too much, but I'm not an expert on NI law

From what I said above and the response you sent I did check it out with Housing Rights in NI and was told I was correct. I am deemed a vulnerable adult, they do have an obligation to house me and I am technically homeless. They've (the NIHE which is the local council, it's the housing section of the council) got medical evidence from specialists advising them of the complexity of my PTSD and why certain accommodation isn't going to be something I can contend with.

diggingdude

If they only have flats what else do you expect to be offered? many many people in all forms of social housing will say they are inappropriately housed

csgohan4

diggingdude wrote: »

If they only have flats what else do you expect to be offered? many many people in all forms of social housing will say they are inappropriately housed

OP when there is lack of supply, councils cannot magic up a house to your specification on a whim. Either you wait or go into a flat which unfortunately can make your MH worse.


But the alternative is to continue being homeless which also affects your MH.


Which is the least worst option for you?


Making a complaint does not also make a house appear for you, by all means make a complaint but doing so and the constant refusal of flats may put you further down the list of priorty.


Singe parents with children will always be given priority and houses are usually more than 1 bedroom

Lioness_Twinkletoes

I think you need a two pronged attack - by all means follow up the complaint and application with the Council, but you also need to be aware that this will all take time - a lot of it. Further, there is no guarantee you will be offered a home at the end of it. Even if they accept you as homeless and confirm they have a duty to house you, it could feasibly take months - if not years to find you a suitable home - especially as you are vehemently refusing a flat. In the meantime, you are homeless. Their own website makes several mentions of long waits - and even with the medical issues you claim to have, there will still be families with more points than you.

I think you need to find a job - any job - as quickly as possible. Ask family for help with a deposit and maybe the first months rent and look to rent privately. You can also ask the Council for help with a deposit - they often have schemes that will help with this. You also need to urgently work in your PTSD in relation to flats - this is hindering you hugely. There won't be many one bed houses and anything bigger than a one bed will go to a family as they'll have greater need.

At this stage, your priority isn't with the Council, it's with finding a home.

whatsthepointinthat wrote: »

From what I said above and the response you sent I did check it out with Housing Rights in NI and was told I was correct. I am deemed a vulnerable adult, they do have an obligation to house me and I am technically homeless. They've (the NIHE which is the local council, it's the housing section of the council) got medical evidence from specialists advising them of the complexity of my PTSD and why certain accommodation isn't going to be something I can contend with.

Yep, and if they accept they have a duty to house you, you'll most likely be offered temporary accommodation - Temporary accommodation from the Housing Executive will usually be a hostel managed by the Housing Executive or a voluntary agency a property rented from a private landlord by the Housing Executive (a single let).

They can't give you what they haven't got and you've got less than no chance of getting a house as there are, in all likelihood, very few one bed houses.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

[URL="https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6037367thread[/URL]

Gilead

I am relatively familiar with the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, have had significant dealings with them for clients in years gone by. For those not familiar with NIHE, housing is under their remit and not local councils.

Firstly, 190 points is very good. 70 of which will be homeless points, with the remainder a combination of points based on your personal situation. It may not have you top of the list in your area of preference, but it would certainly have you in a healthy position. The next point I would make is the issue of when you 'present' to NIHE. Usually, if you move back to NI and are in housing need, you would present on the day of arrival and they would go through an assessment. However, if you had a notice to vacate/eviction etc for a set date, then they can do all that in advance. But that's irrelevant now that you have been awarded points.

The obligation to house you. Yes, they have an obligation to make every reasonable effort to house you, but that means making, at the minimum, an offer to put a temporary roof over your head. That can range from hostel, single lets, B&Bs etc. There are also mens/womens only hostels for situations where there was been trauma. They will rarely have temporary accommodation within their housing stock to offer you an actual self-contained house. If you reject those offers, that is where their immediate obligation ends. Of course, they will still try and find a more permanent property.

Your area of choice - you make mention of needing to live in a certain area for family support, but have been advised it is low turnover. To have any chance of housing you need to cast your net a lot wider. Some areas are really settled, and desirable, so properties come up rarely. And when they do they will go on the point allocation.

If you are unable to accept a flat or anything that may have a communal area you are not in a good position. Firstly, the housing stock for 1 beds houses is almost non-existent.

It may be best to explore private rental options as there is a lot more flexibility. If you talk with NIHE, in certain situations (where your circumstances should apply) they will keep you on the list with points while you are in private rental - in recognition that due to your complex needs that is the optimal thing to do to see you temporarily housed. They with deposit etc, they will signpost you to any relevant schemes.

Finally, you mentioned only being on PIP. If you are unable to work, ESA should be available, or you are out of work JSA. Also, housing benefit. Report to your Jobs and Benefits Office to see about applying. Some areas of NI are under Universal Credit, and some aren't (yet).

edgex

Their more recent thread seems to have disappeared as I was writing this;

whatsthepointinthat wrote: »

Housing Rights have advised there is something called a Management Transfer Application. When I asked what it was they told me it was given at the discretion of the Housing Manager and just meant that I would be higher up the list than someone else, and that it wouldn't be about how many points I had.

The problem I have is that if I could get through the front door of a block of flats then I'd have no issues living there. I appreciate that I (thankfully due to my PTSD) don't have kids so I'm deemed as less important, but I find it appalling that there is so little help for people with mental health disabilities.

The housing department can do their best, but they are not a health/wellbeing support service.
As a single person, without mobility issues, all they are going to have available are flats, & very very rarely 1bed houses.

You've highlighted that the issue is getting through the front door of a block of flats. Well not all flats are in tower blocks, there will be some that are in small 2/3 storey blocks, others above shops etc.
Have you asked your health team about going around, with support, to see the variety available?