We are being evicted, some advice please...... the date has arrived......

poorbabe

Wishing you all that's good today.

I'll have a (few) choccies on your behalf. Wouldn't want you to have to worry about a few extra calories as well

blue_monkey_2

Good evening everyone.

Well, we went armed for a fight - and we did not get one.

Today we was offered 2 choices of homeless accomodation - I guess we would have moved in on Monday. There is a BUT here. The first was a 3 bedroom maisonette (as they realise this is neccesary for Ryan) but it was in the town where I cannot live, or there was also one room in a hostel. I told her that we would choose the hostel and hubby respected and understands that decision. I told him to take the kids out and I explained to her, in full, about my past, what would happen and that because of the history and they accept that I cannot live in either of those 2 towns for the families saftey. It was a huge worry because it would be my fault if anythig happened to us and this was a major factor of the worry, but I feel I can sleep better now, just having explained. I told her that I had spent years trying to get where I was now, I had friends who did not know of my past and I have spent a long time blacking it out but it felt nice to get it off my chest as I had it in my mind for a week so far, and I was able to get through it without crying - also a bonus.

She actually told me that as of today both of these places were empty and they had kept them empty for us. In fact they could offer us 2 family rooms in the hostel (although at a whopping cost of £145 EACH PER ROOM PER WEEK!!) this was so that one of us could sleep in one room with Ryan and the other in with Mya. She asked how he slept, I said not very well and he wakes screaming, wandering and having nightmares and that most nights I did end up in bed with him until morning as it stopped him disturbing everyone else in the house. We also asked what if he damaged the property. She asked in what way and so we showed her the pictures we had taken......

Then we was offered 'another' alternative. This was to stay here until my mum ordered the bailiffs in. Basically we can stay in this house and my mother will get the bailiffs in to remove us. A few days before the bailiffs removed us we would be then put into the hostel as they would know what this date was going to be. We was asked how we felt about this and my reply was 'honestly, I don't care because of the situation mum has put us in and that I was happy to do that'. In the meantime she is going to ask her boss if we can have 'additional homeless' points but these will be valid for just one month, enabling us to choose properties from 2 'lists'. This would ensure our points total is really high and it will mean any house we apply for we will get. If nothing comes up in this time and the bailiffs are due then we will go onto a hostel before they arrive to remove us. They will not let us get to the point of the bailiffs coming to take us out, we will get something before this happens.

We have agreed to this because for today, and because we should get extra points to be able to be housed, it is the better option for Ryan.

Ryan was being himself and the council lady (who was, face to face, very nice and understanding) asked how we would cope with him in one room if it came to it. I said we would if we had to but my friend had offered us use o her carvan so would this be an option. Yes, it is, but we are not classed as homeless them but we would get points for having 'no fixed abode'. We are able to live in the van and travel to different sites, even those not in this area, and because we have had a connection with the area for the last 5 years we will keep our points total at the same so we can still look. I guess when the sites close we can then be classed as homeless - but this would be 6 months away, and she estimated that we would be in the hostel for 6 months. Also that I be out of the area for 5 years but because I have lived/was bought up in this area then we could still use that as a local connection to get the bulk of points. So, it is an option to look into while we wait for somewhere to come up as we will have points. Works on the same basis as the hostel just that we are not sharing.

So for the next few weeks we are fine and OK here, I feel a whole lot happier about everything, we have to send more wage slips, bank statements, etc.. to her but that is not a problem. We have nothing to hide. She called the court while we was there and they confirmed the date for us to leave is the 16th. I still feel a bit panicky and my P started 10 days early but putting that down to stress, I am sure that these feelings will ease as it is not the end of the world and something else much worse could happen.

The most important thing here is that they are going to help us.

So now we have to wait for our 'homeless points' and to see if they are going to be offered. As her boss is the same lady our MP wrote to telling her to help us, what are our chances

It does feel a huge relief, we got all of our questions answered without us asking, the cats we have to make our own arrangements for - until mum sells the house I will keep them here and pop up after school to feed them (I will leave food outside if I am not allowed in), likewise with the furniture, they do not help with this and we have to store it ourself. If we get desperate, the lady taking Ricky will take the other 2 until we get housed and she might even be able to have our furniture. I will put all the valuable stuff in the storage with my lingerie stock and the other 'basic stuff' I will keep in the van. We have been offered a 'nearly new' suite so ours will stay here, it is just the big stuff, washing machine, matresses, bed (we got a new one for £35 as Ryan has broken the one we have but we have not bothered opening it until we go, LOL) and the tumble drier really.

So, phew, that is it really. I have called my mum and tod her that she will have to instruct the bailiff as it will give us more time for Ryan to be sorted, I think she is happy with this as she gets another months rent out of us as well them (unless something comes up on 'the list' next week) we are getting additional points as the lady from the council saw that we did not have enough points and they are trying to keep us out of the hostel.

I did smile though when I was rummaging through my file - did not take a few bits as she did not have my file and I did not have them for her to copy, she asked what I did bring and I said 'this and that, letters from the MP'. LOL!!

But she was nice,and it finally feels like the are helping us and that they are being understanding - I thought we might be in for a rough ride as we went to the MP but it was far from the case. Ryan was being himself and trying to bite Mya as well as rolling around the floor and kicking the window after asking him 100 times not to....

She asked about how everything was in the family, I had already explained about my mums past and I did explain to her that I felt mum needed to get rid of the house to deal with her past, hat dad never gave her any money and that he gave her the house rather than giving any child support etc... but that I think she needed to get rid of her past. I did say that we hardly see my mum now, for whatever reason and explained about the EA coming around and not getting involved - she as really, really easy to speak to and did say that it must of been hard for everyone. That surprised me a little, but we was just honest with her and that is the best way isn't it.

A good day. I do feel calm and relaxed - and sick as I ate too much cake, LOL!! I bought some crisps and a dip and I cannot even face them!!

sasp

Hi hun,
Sooo glad you have posted I have been popping on and off here for most of the aft waiting for news.
So glad it went ok and you managed to get the answers you needed. At least there is a little light (albeit a very dim one just yet) and you are on the right track to getting appropriate help.

Take a deep breath now and have a relaxing soak if possible as this has been a very stressful day for you (and the family of course).

I'm sending you a BIG hug, and an even bigger well done chick.

Take care, and try to get some sleep (Ryan permitting)
Love Shar xx:A :A

SingleSue

It sounds very similar to my experience.....we were being warned about being put in a hostel (this was back in 1994 so things have changed a fair bit) but the day before we were due to be evicted, an offer of a house came through from the housing association (we had a similar fight to get the points we were entitled to too) I can't tell you how relieved and chuffed I was!

Hope things sort out for you....

rach29

Hi BM, I'm pleased you feel calm tonight after what must have been a stressful day. I truly hope & pray that the extra points mean you can find a place soon. If there is any justice in the world your dream house & location will be on the next list that is published.

Wish I could offer practical help but please know that my thoughts are with you & your family

blue_monkey_2

Hi all, your houghts and hugs are more than enough to keep me smiling I promise I forgot to say that she told me I could also apply to the other council if I wanted to, I could apply to whoever I liked, so I am getting thoe forms in too. Yes, the light is there at the end of the very dim tunnel. I need that soak in the bath but still feeling a bit fragile after the cake and I know I might be sick so will have a bath before school tomorrow.

Just popped an update email off to the MP so if we do not get the points he is probably going to want to know why. Meow!!

Sue, it all changed now, I told them could they not find out who had applied for the sheltered housing so we could have one of those places (you got to try, LOL) but now you have to wait until the list comes out, bid and see if you get lucky, if you have the highest points then to you to view the property and have 'first choice'. I would have thought that they call the HA and say 'Family x need x and are about to be evicted, if anything comes up then let us know' but it does not work like that and even if being evicted the council have no say over who gets what. Strange isn't it!!

The temporary accomodation outside of the hostel are furnished flats and houses that the council has been offered as the LL knows he has guarenteed income on these. I do not think they have many, the one we was offered today was only available until November and the occupants would be rehoused before then for definate.

SingleSue

Certainly has changed since our time of facing the same problem...then the council went to the housing association with their list of soon to be homeless and worked with them to get them housed before eviction date. No bidding or anything like that, if you had the points you got to the top of the list and was offered a place...seems so much more complicated now.

blue_monkey_2

Initially I thought it would be better as it meant you could express an interest and you might get lucky that no one else was interested but it seems it is not so. It should be run y one or the other really, how can one make the descision if they do not have anything 'in hand' so to speak. Never mind, it'll be nice to finally feel settled - we never have here really, there was always that worry that if anything happened to mum then we would be out on our ear courtesy of b&s, but at least we will not have to worry about this ever again.

dopester

ampersand wrote: »

She needs no pointers from shallow thinkers, skim readers and erroneous or misapplied quotes.

You aren't half sanctimonious ampersand.

I will give my opinion on any matter I choose when my overall intentions are pure - even when they are not popular.

Living between 2 towns, neither of which she is prepared to live in because of fear, due to some circumstances of old.... harking back to problems when she was 17 years of age which clearly still trouble her..... something is very wrong here.

When she drives through either town she "keeps her head down" ?

It's not healthy at all. Added to which, as far as I can tell, BM will always be haunted by living in such circumstances, and resentful.

I can't see why you want to live anywhere near vicinity of these 2 towns when they hold painful memories and fears for you - and it seems your circumstances forces an unrealistic narrow criteria for your housing needs - what you are prepared to accept. What is wrong with me saying that? It's true as much as I can tell.

Refusing a a 3 bedroom maisonette?????

The housing association/councils must love you.

You don't sound particularly close to you Mum or the area in general, except maybe that you grew up in that area. Ok you have your sister in the area, and your child's school. I hope this situation doesn't prevent your child from visiting these towns as he gets older. Anyway... good luck in sorting out the temporary accomodation / furnished flats.

sasp

dopester wrote: »

You aren't half sanctimonious ampersand.

I will give my opinion on any matter I choose when my overall intentions are pure - even when they are not popular.

Living between 2 towns, neither of which she is prepared to live in because of fear, due to some circumstances of old.... harking back to problems when she was 17 years of age which clearly still trouble her..... something is very wrong here.

When she drives through either town she "keeps her head down" ?

It's not healthy at all. Added to which, as far as I can tell, BM will always be haunted by living in such circumstances, and resentful.

I can't see why you want to live anywhere near vicinity of these 2 towns when they hold painful memories and fears for you - and it seems your circumstances forces an unrealistic narrow criteria for your housing needs - what you are prepared to accept. What is wrong with me saying that? It's true as much as I can tell.

Refusing a a 3 bedroom maisonette?????

The housing association/councils must love you.

You don't sound particularly close to you Mum or the area in general, except maybe that you grew up in that area. Ok you have your sister in the area, and your child's school. I hope this situation doesn't prevent your child from visiting these towns as he gets older. Anyway... good luck in sorting out the temporary accomodation / furnished flats.

And YOU call Ampersands sanctimonious!!!

There are many issues that BM has to try to resolve when finding a home for herself and her family (the main one being her son who has very diverse needs). She would only be adding fuel to her endless fire if she makes the wrong choice (and there are not many).

I thank you for your final encouragement in wishing her well Dopestar, but speaking as a friend of BM please try to allow this lady to receive the support she needs at the moment as her nerves are truly frayed, and I honestly don't think she can take much more.

Many thanks
sasp