To ask for help re: homelessness?

[youokayhun]

I know this isn't the right topic but desperately need some advice. My dad is in his 60s, homeless, living in his car and has been throughout the minus weather. I don't know where to go to get him any help.

[TheIsland]

Shelter?

[Frequency]

Have you contacted Shelter and your local council?

[Wolfiefan]

Of course YANBU. Could the CAB point him in the right direction. Who has he approached?

[UpstartCrow]

First thing I'd do is Google for local housing associations, especially those for older people and single men, and get him on the waiting list for council housing.

[Purringkittenmama]

Also, are there any other local charities in your area which support homeless people? In the town I live in, there is a charity which specifically deals with this issue.

[plire]

Do you know why he's homeless?

So if he's ex forces for example there are specific charities.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Can he not stay with you while things are sorted?

[BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot]

If he's healthy then all you can do is direct him to his local homeless shelter and housing department.

At 60 he would be expected to be working and looking at the private rental market as a working age adult

[SoaveSally]

He needs to go to his local Borough Council and present himself as homeless to be assessed.

[glasshalffull2018]

Is he able to stay with you for a bit? shelter, citizens advice and local charities to your area might be able to help. There are also lots of Facebook groups in my region that provide help in these situations

[dangermouseisace]

your local Citizens Advice will probably know who you need to speak to. I know our local one comes across this sort of issue frequently. I hope your dad manages to get somewhere soon.

[Furano]

Why is he homeless? No income? No deposit? Is he getting all the benefits he is entitled to? Is he working? Is he healthy? Has he presented as homeless? Does his have some kind of other difficulty that makes securing accommodation tricky like mental health problems, drug or alcohol addiction etc?

People need much more info to be able to offer any advice.

[nellieellie]

There is no duty on local authority to provide housing to people without children unless they are in some way “vulnerable”. So, if your dad has any physical or mental health problems, this will be relevant. Duty to house can be avoided though if someone is considered “intentionally homeless” -eg left housing when they didn’t have to, or evicted because of rent arrears which they could afford to pay, or due to anti social behaviour. That said, they do have a duty to provide “advice and assistance”. Your dad could go to local council to ask for help (this might be just giving him a list of local hostels, landlords etc though). He can also apply to go on housing list for a council property. Depending on where he is in the country, council stock is generally low and waiting lists long, but as a 60 yr old may have some priority. There will also be local agencies and hostels he can contact - the council should provide details of these, or a google search.
CAB should be able to advise, and should know of local housing/hostels.

[BitchQueen90]

Where abouts in the country are you?

[LIZS]

Salvation Army? Does he have any issues which have triggered this?

[BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot]

A fit healthy 60 year old male will be a very very low priority but they may have rent deposit schemes he can tap into. I agree we need more info.

[Whatshallidonowpeople]

Move him in with you. I can't believe you need to ask

[BitchQueen90]

What that might not be an option. There could be many reasons.

[youokayhun]

@furano

He has no income, he's on no benefits, he's not in the best of health, had a stroke last year, diabetic etc I've spoken to local council who say their assessments will take at least a month and they want tons of information which I don't have and he probably doesn't either because he's a bit useless if I'm honest. My living situation is also difficult right now so can't stay with me as I'm staying with other people right now myself. I don't need the stress. I feel so selfish. I can barely help myself at the moment

[youokayhun]

@whatshallidonowpeople I would obviously have him with me if I could, hence the need to ask. No need to be shirty

[LIZS]

If he is still of working age could he claim esa and/or pip if unable to work. Surely there is a process for emergency accommodation while being assessed? It might be best if he went to the housing office in person, or you could ask Shelter if they know how to go about it or could support him.

[BumpowderSneezeonAndSnot]

Ok ring social services and ask for an OT assessment of his housing needs. This will support his application. Where in the UK are you? Here 2 housing associations run drop ins for people like your dad to help them with their applications and advocate for them I can send you links if you're in the same area.

[dangermouseisace]

I think citizens advice would definitely be helpful...they’ll be able to work out if he is eligible for benefits and maybe help apply as well as probably knowing who in your local area might be able to get him somewhere in the meantime. OT assessments can take months- he needs a roof now.

[pigpoglet]

Is he not able to work a little bit ? Can he go to the job centre or citizens advice? How sad for him to be in this state at his age . It must be very worrying for you .

[tissuesosoft]

The Homeless Reduction Act 2018 came in this month, has he been to the council in the past couple of weeks?
What is his rough location?