I need major help

cliffordeone

You must then push them. Do not let them trick you. They will have a housing problem if they have to evict you, especially if your child has special needs.

Danjay86

Thanks i will try with the council - i made a crowdfunding page but things shouldnt have to come to that i dont know what else to do

RAS

RAS said:

Can you check whether there are any charities that might help with back rent (might be worth asking Housing Advice rather than Housing)? Speak to Shelter etc? Check also for foodbanks.

Have you got a S21 notice to quit? Or is it S8 for arrears? It is important as they have different timelines.

And if it's S8, is the current arrears more than 2 month's rent?

Oh and are you claiming CMS, even if it's only a little bit?

Can you answer these questions, please

sourcrates

You can`t advertise on MSE without permission, and it also identifies you, that link will get removed.

Brie

Check if the food bank does budgetting and debt advice.  They do in our area.  They can help you spot ways to handle the rent issue and see what else might be possible - reduction in energy use, making the home more energy efficient, water rates etc.  If the food bank doesn't do it then there's the usual places - Stepchange, CAB etc.

elsien

Danjay86 said:

You would think so wouldnt you but they have helped as much as they can they told me

They’re not going to help you now because at the moment you are adequately housed. An eviction process, if not already started, is going to take a few months. You will find that at the point you are evicted then because of your children you will be housed but it may well be temporary housing. Which is no help to you now. Are you on the council/social housing list and are they aware of your child’s disabilities. If you’re not registered, then register now. It’s a start and you may find your priority changes as things progress. 

scoot65

I've heard of Crowdfunding but I've never actually seen a Crowdfunding page. Thanks for posting the link.  

funny_bunny

RichinFriends said:

Under the Homelessness Reduction Act (2017), your/any local authority has a Duty to Assess you if you are at risk of homelessness within 56 days. It sounds like you are so please contact your council. You need the Homelessness Team or they are also called Housing Options or Solutions or other such positive sounding names now. You can find their details on the Homelessness page. You may have been speaking to Housing Allocations which is council wating list or simply the Customer Service team. They are not all trained up and you may be shocked at the level of ignorance each department has about each other.

 As above, Shelter or Citizens Advice can assist or advocate for you. You will be a priority due to your children and you will get some support. It may be that they offer you what is called Temporary Accommodation which can be for years, depending on where in the country you are. Depending on availability of Temporary Accommodation, it may be that you need to move further from your children's school. However, as your daughter has medical needs, you can ask to remain in your local area too and if you get an advocate they can lean on that. However, it is in the Homelessness Code of Guidance which available online, that Housing will take all circumstances into account. But there is always their discretion, which is usually because there is not accommodation available in your area. 

It's a long road to being offered your own council property simply due to oversubscribed resources. 

Please do not accept that the council can't help you. They can and have a duty to. 

Totally agree with this 👆. 

If you have been served 'Notice to Quit', turn up to your council office with that.

They have an obligation to rehouse you. NTQ makes you potentially homeless, and that makes you a priority candidate for housing.

EssexHebridean

Put in writing to the council the situation as it stands so far - including when you have contacted them, who you have spoken to, what you told that person and their response. Copy this to your local MP. 

Have you used the benefits calculator to make absolutely sure that everything you/your daughter is entitled to is being claimed? Appreciate you say you're sure you're getting everything, but an awful lot of folk make assumptions about what they are entitled to. what makes me wonder is that during Covid there was help available for self employed folk, but you said you got nothing and I'm wondering why that would be? 

Lots of great advice on the housing stuff above here too, also advice to contact one of the free debt-help charities, definitely do that. Talk to the hospital too about them arranging hospital transport for the visits you have to make with your daughter. If there is a charity that might be relevant to her specific health conditions then get in contact with them too to see what they might be able to advise.

Does your children's Mum contribute, and if so has that been checked to ensure she's paying the right amount?  (Assuming she can be found, that is) 

As a short term fix if there is any unsecured debt you have that you are still trying to make payments to (credit cards etc) stop paying that in order to ensure that you can afford food. As a "sticking plaster" contact your energy supplier about their assistance fund, and find out what is needed to allow you to use the foodbank - it may well be a referral of some sort is needed but you'll need to find out where from.  Just spotted you're already doing this. 

Also as a short term fix it might help to put together your SOA (Statement of Affairs) showing all your income/outgoings and post that in here and we'll see if we can spot any tweaks that might at least redeploy your available funds to where they will do most good. 

As a last shot - I don't suppose you are ex forces are you? 

Wishing you luck - and remember that you do have a support network and help readily available on tap here. it's not the same a people "in real life" I know but we'll all do what we can in terms of solid practical advice and help. 

diggingdude

Another suggestion, does your child have a social worker allocated if disabled? If so make them aware of the issue as well