I'm classed as Street Homeless AMA

[HopelessWanderer]

Just as it says in the title, I'm classed as Street Homeless, ask away. Might be useful any questions you have as I never thought it would happen to me.

Luckily I got help in time and didn't end up on the street, but whilst the bus was going through every village known to man kind I did think there was a chance I'd be on the streets that night.

How did you end up classed as homeless OP? And did you not have friends or family to stay with?

Sorry if I am being thick. But what does street homeless mean of you are not actually on the street.

Hope you are now on your feet, or that you will be soon

Do you mean you live in a shelter?

Im sorry OP.

It really is there but for the grace of God isnt it.

What are your future plans? What support are you getting

What does this even mean? So you are housed and you have access to the internet... how are you
Homeless?

@obviousNC101 might be in a homeless shelter or sheltered accommodation that has WiFi

Do you ever sit on the street and ask for money/food?

If so, and if people come and chat to you, do you like it or find it patronising? Are there any common phrases which you find particularly annoying/nice?

You are classed as Street Homeless if you have no where to go which can happen for a plethora of reasons, like if your landlord sells up & you have no where to go, to family that won't house you after a relationship breakdown.

I admit I was very ignorant to the point of people going to food banks with designer gear & the latest phones. Although my phone is quite old. Basically hard times can fall on anyone, so if you have a contract your phone company won't cut you off, you have to keep paying.

Generally if you get to your local council and meet certain conditions they'll house you in a hotel / B&B / shelter / shared accommodation.

It's quite surreal if you have all you can carry with you and you go to your council and have to utter those words, 'I am homeless' that's when it hit me that it was a very serious situation, where if they didn't help, I would be on the streets that night.

I speak to the staff where I'm staying and they say you get from families to single people. Everybody has a story and it's always unique.

Unlike from what I've heard about some people / families, I'm beyond grateful to have been given accommodation. As if I'm honest I don't know how I would have coped being on the streets.

You have to meet certain criteria, so local connection, part of a certain group, then your last big test is if you are considered as making yourself intentionally homeless. So if you left your husband, unless DV was involved or something along them lines, then you would be expected to live with your ex till you found somewhere else.

If you saw me you wouldn't think I was necessarily homeless, if you saw me with all my necessities on me it might be a tad more obvious.

It's always a good idea to have a back up plan if anything were to go wrong. Sometimes that isn't always an option.

When people hear Street Homeless they picture you in a sleeping bag outside a shopping centre with a pot, I've discovered those who remain on the streets rely on income from begging to feed habits, which I don't have. Really no one should be on the streets but it does become a way of life for some. I got told begging is quite lucrative as even though you only see coppers in the pot, many will throw in a few £ and the homeless person / beggar will siphon that off to make it look like they have no where.

I think if you were anti social in any way and caused problems, there's the potential for councils to say we helped you and you did x/y/z so we can't help.

Generally they try and house you with the council or HA really quick, sometimes if you have needs it's not always straight forward.

I've paid Council Tax for over 20 years, so I'm glad councils do have a provision for those in need. As I dread to think what it would be like if you had no where to stay, plus how scary having to loiter the streets with everything you need to survive on you.

WHY are you homeless?

I don't beg, but I'm lucky in a way that I get a little income, you get no provision for food / drink, so they can put you anywhere, doesn't have to be near shops, you have to figure out yourself how you're going to feed yourself.

So having a kettle most of your food is anything a kettle can aid, if that makes sense.

A lot of the places they put you have no cooking facilities, or even facilities for buying food on site. So you have to be savvy.

I've heard lots of tales about other families that have stayed and were homeless and spent over £40 on takeaways a night. If I had that kind of spare income I'd be checking myself into a B&B/Air B&B, as admitting I was homeless was a big deal and took a lot to accept if that makes sense.

I've spoke to people, the one thing you hear a lot from lots of people is if you'd come here on a boat you'd get a new house, fully furnished and loads of money with it. Luckily I'm not that naive and I don't think it is that easy for anyone. Regardless of if you were born in the UK / EU / Rest of the World.

Although I have to say certain cultures really look after one another so I don't think in some demographics it's that big an issue.

I think the hardest thing is when you're trying to carry everything you need and you're struggling, people just stare at you. Not that I expect help, but rather than make assumptions, treat people how you would want to be treated in such circumstances.

I think a lot of people are a pay cheque, maybe two, from being in my situation. You just never think about it unless it's happening to you.

What part of the country (roughly obviously, don't out yourself) are you in?

What about your situation is the worst thing?

What are your essentials?

I got made homeless as I've been waiting for council property for ages, the person I was with, it was meant to be temporary, we were struggling to get on. They felt that I had other options, but I didn't. So I had to go and tell the council I was homeless. @Lynne1Cat

I'm up North, location wise.

@tworoundsofwaterplease Worst thing... I need to emphasise how grateful I am that they helped me first off, as it does get quite scary being in limbo as the scariest thing is there's so much legislation. I honestly don't want to be found intentionally homeless, firstly because I'm not, secondly because I have no other options. Another area that is scary is they don't book you long term with the view to cancelling if you find somewhere. So there's always the possibility after so long where I am, if there's no availability I'd have to pack everything up and go. Yesterday I sorted out my bags so stuff I needed was more to hand. Another area is that as I'm classed as being the highest band, they can't say HopelessWanderer is homeless please give her somewhere. So whilst homeless I get no further priority on permanent housing, than someone who isn't classed as Street Homeless.

A good thing is I've only got upset once, so I'm trying to be stoic about it all. It is scary knowing you literally have nothing to fall back on. Everyone is your friend till you need something, then surprisingly there's pretty much a silence.

Some might say not having food options is difficult, as you rely solely on foods that require a kettle. As the hotel staff got to know me I'm allowed to put stuff in the fridge, I found out last night I can use the microwave, which gives me a few more options. My income doesn't really cover take seats every night. For a while I was living on crisps & chocolate.

You do feel like you're stuck in limbo as councils have budgets, but like I said before, if they booked up longer and in advance with view to cancelling then it'd be cheaper for the council.

You literally get asked the same questions worded differently, I assume to catch those who are lying. Although I don't quite get why anyone would lie about being in this predicament.

Another thing is unless you drive, you can be placed anywhere, which means if I didn't read or have a TV days would be pretty dull. You have to make your own entertainment. I got told that closer to winter you get families coming, that must be hard on parents who are stuck pretty much no where.

Good things, when I was at a busier hotel you'd meet more people, they would chat, plus I chat to the staff if they're not busy. The room is lovely, I really can't complain.

When you pay your council tax, I think some is put away for services like I've had to avail myself of. They do mention budgets & legislation quite a bit, so you don't feel settled. I'd rather be stuck where I am which is a lot cheaper, long term, than have to move from place to place.

I don't think it hit a family member who can't accommodate me, but I have some stuff at there's, till they got to this place I had to swap to, then they realised shit HopelessWanderer really is Homeless.

Essentials...

You need clothes, ideally you would have someone who can wash your clothes. So you pack enough clothes to wear. Not say a huge amount, but enough so you have a few options. Obviously medication that you need, toiletries such as shampoo, shower gel, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, deodorant. Then something that'll give some entertainment, so a few books, crosswords, I already had paper etc, so I could write & keep notes. As it's easy to lose time.

If you have access to a suitcase it might be easier. But you literally need clothes / toiletries / something you enjoy doing that isn't crazy. Then you have to think about food as take seats every night aren't feasible. If you had children I'd imagine it'd be harder as you need all the stuff children need, plus toys.

Apparently it goes quiet in summer then as it gets colder you get more families turning up. I'm the only one in two places I've been in my situation.

Generally they'll let you have as much tea / coffee / sugar / milk you want. But I'm going to get some cheap tea bags & a bag of sugar, maybe some long life milk.

It is weird as you do feel total relief you have somewhere. You usually have a room with an ensuite & TV. So now we have digital there's more channels to choose from, plus there's radio on TV's.

I'd hope I find somewhere permanent soon, it seems odd that they don't say, oh this house is empty that we own, as your homeless it's yours. Different councils have different rules. So one council books in 28 day blocks, another you're lucky to get a week. The uncertainty would be worrying as you get to know staff, it's basically going through that again & again if you get moved.

I used to work with homeless people. If you are in a shelter you can be considered homeless but street homeless is just that. I saw so many people who had a relationship breakdown, became unemployed then lost their home. We would support them to find a roof over their head, sometimes temporarily and sometimes permanently. Some had become addicted to drugs and or alcohol as a way out of their awful reality. Some had become so used to the streets that they struggled to cope in accommodation and went back to the street. Benefits system is unhelpful too and being sanctioned or not being paid benefits on time contributed to their situation. Op I hope you manage to find somewhere permanent.

@fantasmasgoria1 It was one of the staff who explained how it all worked. I got made redundant and in my field there's a bit of a lull if that makes sense. I was told that it's more classification than anything.

Ooh there was one thing that annoyed me, but I guess they have to do it, that was asking the same question several times over, which produced the same answer of 'I've nowhere to go, I can't stay with v because of x, I can't stay with y because of z. I wouldn't be here with all my worldly belongings if I had other options.

I can't imagine anyone wanting to pretend they have no where as it's a horrid feeling. It's certainly not something I anticipated in my lifetime.

I hope to get housed fairly quick, but I know that it's unlikely, as there's so many bidding on properties. As I'm already top band so they've no reason to contact the department to see what can be done. That's possibly a flaw in the system, as there should be a special band for those who are homeless.

I'm lucky that addiction / MH issues aren't an issue. I do have some physical health issues, but at my age who isn't a bit creaky. I had to go back to see them & I saw someone on the streets. I wanted to say do you know that you can get help, but they had a pet dog, so guessing they don't want to give up the dog to move somewhere with a roof over their heads

I've found it interesting listening to other people's stories.

I would say to anyone, especially in my line of work, I would make a list of what you'd need if you were in that situation. As another hard thing is having friends or relatives who can't help with accommodation, but might give you a bit of space to put your stuff. Or watch over a pet(s) whilst you get back on your feet.

You find people will reply quickly if it's a day to day conversation, anything serious, you'll stare at your phone hoping for a miracle, that's why having a plan as soon as you can is good, as you can say, look I'm in this situation, you said I could do this if anything happened, is that ok?

I don't know if councils would help find you somewhere to accommodate your pets, or if you would be expected to surrender them so to speak.

Sorry forgot @restingbemusedface I have family and friends, as I'm more mature, family are of the opinion this will be character building. I've got friends who knew of my situation, but when it came to asking for help I needed responses ASAP, as some said they had to speak to partners, consider the impact on their lives.

I think with most things, you find out who your true friends are when you're in a situation like this. One example I don't drive and needed some bits, so a family member initially went to the shops to see what was viable, food wise. If I recall it didnt really hit the family member till they dropped me off at a new place, then their temperament changed quite a bit if that makes any sense. They tried to be reassuring that everything would be ok.

When it comes to protocol I'm quite hot when it comes to rejigging stuff. So I can see flaws in most things. For the allocation system to change, I'm guessing it would take quite a few consultations etc, so it's not as straight forward as this is what should be done.

I reiterate really I'm eternally grateful not to be on the streets, I'm eternally grateful they have protocol like they do, to try and help. I think it varies from council to council.

@Hopelesswander I read your post with sadness and much admiration for you. I spent a night on streets and it was most scariest thing ever, your so tired but so scared to sleep. That’s why I am eternally grateful more that anyone knows for council providing safe roof over my head, it surprises people as they seem to think I would have this entitled kind of attitude with no respect for my home.

Do you have any kind of support from anyone else? Do the council put you forward to other councils on their list out of area for permanent place?

It’s true when your on your knees your see people for who they real are.

I think the HA I'm under branch out to other places that are near to the border. So there is a mix. Was told about them paying for deposit & first months rent on a private place, but firstly most say they don't want people of my sort, second it's not guaranteed that you can make it your own.

In my situation I really like the idea of security as I spent so long getting threatened with homelessness, then it happened.

I haven't really got anyone to talk to. Most people wouldn't really get it if I did. Whilst I'm really beyond grateful, at the same time there's days where you feel a bit low.

Another thing is councils tend to opt for whatever is cheapest, so you can get used to staff then have to move.

Might achieve 50 books in a year though which is good.

I really do understand that low feeling, this is why I have a lot of respect for you. You are stronger than u probably believe (totally cliche but true) as some people use it as an excuse to be an arsehole with bad attitude that feel life owes them, I noticed that people backed off because if it was them in situation they wouldn’t be able to hold their shit together.

I have seen some dire shitholes that these private landlords rent to council that think it’s acceptable just because they getting help with rent. We not all scummy. I’ve been in various private rented and it’s hard especially when landlord decides he want to move back with his new squeeze after being allowed to improve it to make it nice home.

Have you had an dealings with the likes sheltered housing ours is called something else in my area. I found them more helpful than council even though they was nice staff. If it hadn’t been for them I would had to hide from bailiffs with court order for landlord to get house back (which I refused to do) or moving from one temporary filthy health hazard shithole, to next (6wks is the max before had to move on) The shelter accommodation people was my advocate for me and stood in my corner and got me where I reside now just as I had to be out 1st temporary place.

I did however move out the area it has it pros and cons but I wasn’t leaving behind any local support or family so that was never an issue.

Where are you now op?