I think I need to declare myself as homeless

[flymol]

I need help, I currently live with my partners family and my very young baby. We have split up due to an addiction he has and isn't willing to work on.

Once the family find out we aren't a couple I will be asked to leave. I have nowhere to go and no money to rent. I have enough to pay for a deposit to rent but would struggle to meet payments on my own and a private landlord would never consider me. I'm technically not homeless as I have a roof over my head but if im asked to leave where will this leave me? Please help me work out my next steps.

Please don't judge, under a year ago I was a successful young professional with good prospects, my own home and a strong stable relationship, life can end up like this to anyone.

You need to speak to the council, they may be able to add you to the housing waiting list but until you are asked to leave or you leave of domestic violence is involved you won't be priority.

If they just chuck you out you would need to go to the offices with your baby and ID and they will put you in temporary accommodation.

If you can get a deposit you could go private and claim the housing aspect of Universal Credit. Landlords will take you but many will not without a guarantor. The council will be able to help with this though.

If you are asked to leave go to the council and they will place you on a b and b. Can be grotty but then you will be on a list for a council flat or housing association flat with a lots of help financially. Yes it may takes months but looking long term you will be ok.

Once they ask you to leave go to your local council housing dept and ask to make a homelessness application. If you literally have nowhere to go and you have a young child, assuming you are eligible, they should place you in emergency accommodation that day and then check to see if you are intentionally homeless and have a local connection. If so they should then place you in long term accommodation.

They are likely to want to phone the family you are living with. If so, the family will have to say you can no longer stay there. You might want to prepare them for this call. If they say “oh well yes I suppose she could stay another few nights” you are likely to end up just going back to the council in a few days for the same process as you technically won’t be homeless yet.

It’s a bit of a minefield and the council are likely to give you lots of incorrect information so I would call shelter and see if you can get a caseworker to help you through the process, or go to citizens advice and ask for signposting to local services who specialise in housing advice.

Good luck!

You also need help with getting some benefits in place which Citizens Advice should also be able to assist with.

Go to the council first thing on Monday and get an appointment to complete a homeless assessment. The sooner they do this the better. You don’t have to wait until you’ve been asked to leave your current accommodation. You have a child and they are very focused on ensuring children don’t sleep on the streets. I had to stay in temporary accommodation with my kids earlier this year and it was a bit grotty but okay. You’ll stay there until they can find you a permanent council home which can take weeks, months, a year. It depends on how far you are able to move/travel and what’s available in that area. Ensure you also contact CAB to get everything you’re entitled to. Good luck OP and be strong for your little one. X