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Original poster

Homelessness

59 replies

XxPrincessQueenxX · 08/10/2022 22:28

Currently sofa surfing with my 14 month old. Council refusing to help. Trying to go through private rent but i need a guarantor, is there any organisations who supply guarantors for people like me? Tia x

OP posts:
Crinkle77 · 08/10/2022 22:44

I think the council won't consider you homeless as technically you've got somewhere to stay even if it sofa surfing. Yes there is such a thing as rent guarantor companies. I can't recommend any in particular but I have heard of them

Discovereads · 08/10/2022 22:46

Call Shelter. They might be able to advise.

Rainallnight · 08/10/2022 22:47

The council are acting illegally. Go to them with a letter from whom ever you’re staying with saying they won’t accommodate you any more. You ought to be in priority need because of your baby.

and phone the Shelter advice line.

Though be aware that depending on where you live, the council might offer some fairly dreadful temporary accommodation.

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Benefits
WhatsAVideo · 08/10/2022 22:50

Most places won’t accept the guarantor companies unfortunately.

How did you come to be homeless? (Asking as councils also like to state XYZ reason means they don’t have duty).

Sofa surfing or not, you’re still homeless, and they have a duty. Councils like to say they don’t, but they do.

Original poster
XxPrincessQueenxX · 09/10/2022 00:08

Thank you for the messages, so basically my mum kicked my out, no reason other than she’s toxic asf, the council got given a letter by my mum stating she’s kicking me out. I’ve never heard of Shelter so gunna give it a Google now. right now I just feel so bad on my daughter & that I’ve failed her.

OP posts:
K37529 · 09/10/2022 00:14

If your mum kicked you out you are entitled to homeless points, and if you say that the person you are with is not willing to let you stay anymore you should be entitled to temporary accommodation. Definitely talk to shelter they should be able to speak to the council on your behalf. Good luck, don’t feel like a failure everyone goes through rough times you’ll get through this x

Discovereads · 09/10/2022 01:05

Does “toxic as f” include domestic abuse? If so another place you can call is Womens Aid about getting into a refuge as a victim of domestic abuse. Call Shelter as well as suggested earlier, but can’t hurt to have options and as many people helping you as possible.

Domestic abuse can be any of the following (even one)

  • physical- hitting, shoving
  • verbal- shouting, swearing, name calling
  • emotional- intimidation, guilt tripping, gaslighting
  • coercive and controlling- invade privacy, manipulation, isolating from friends
  • financial- taking/controlling your money and/or not giving you enough for necessities if you are their dependent
PrincessButtercupToo · 09/10/2022 01:14

Rainallnight · 08/10/2022 22:47

The council are acting illegally. Go to them with a letter from whom ever you’re staying with saying they won’t accommodate you any more. You ought to be in priority need because of your baby.

and phone the Shelter advice line.

Though be aware that depending on where you live, the council might offer some fairly dreadful temporary accommodation.

The OP hasn’t said that their host won’t accommodate them any more. Apart from inventing things, and being wrong on the law, have you anything based in reality instead to offer?

RightsHoarder · 09/10/2022 01:51

@PrincessButtercupToo I'm afraid they're right. This is the only way to get taken seriously. You have to show you have nowhere else to go. The way the system works I'm afraid.

PrincessButtercupToo · 09/10/2022 01:56

RightsHoarder · 09/10/2022 01:51

@PrincessButtercupToo I'm afraid they're right. This is the only way to get taken seriously. You have to show you have nowhere else to go. The way the system works I'm afraid.

But she does have somewhere to stay.

Housing is given based on need, the OP should not be getting moved ahead of people with more urgent needs while she does have a place to stay.

RightsHoarder · 09/10/2022 01:58

@PrincessButtercupToo have you ever sofa surfed? It's awful. Not having somewhere private, yours, is horrible. Mentally very very hard. How is that fair for her and her little one?

Wintersun22 · 09/10/2022 08:57

You need to get your friend to say you can no longer stay there. As far as the council are concerned you have somewhere to stay. In order for them to help you. You have to have ( no where) to stay. If they ask is there anywhere you can stay one more night etc. No there is not. You have no where to stay. They have a duty of care and have to find you emergency/temporary accommodation.

MyCatIsAChonk · 09/10/2022 09:03

The council will help you, the problem is that the help available might not as good as the situation you're in. As usual other posters are pretending to know what they're talking about while spouting absolute crap. Many areas don't have council housing, they only have emergency accomodation which is not what you want. Trust me. Better safe on a sofa than a hostel. Even the housing associations have large waiting lists, you'll be a higher priority but so many people are in the same situation as you that it doesn't really matter what priority they rank you as.

Radiatorscold · 09/10/2022 09:05

I’m fairly sure sofa surfing is classed as homeless. Homeless doesn’t literally mean sleeping on the streets.

MyCatIsAChonk · 09/10/2022 09:06

Also please don't lie about your situation. They're prioritising help for people as they actually need it. Not ignoring you. Yes, people sleeping rough or in a car this winter need more help than you. Councils are working on a shoe string budget. They're also being hurt by consecutive conservative governments who are responsible for both the homelessness situation we're in and the cuts to council funding.

MyCatIsAChonk · 09/10/2022 09:07

It's classed as homeless but will be lower priority than someone sleeping rough. And unfortunately they're so stretched that it could take a while to help her. Don't blame your council blame your government.

MyCatIsAChonk · 09/10/2022 09:09

Look up your local housing associations OP and get yourself registered as looking for a home. Somewhere like Spare room could help you to find a mum in a similar situation to yours. And you could rent cheaply together.

mountainsunsets · 09/10/2022 09:15

Radiatorscold · 09/10/2022 09:05

I’m fairly sure sofa surfing is classed as homeless. Homeless doesn’t literally mean sleeping on the streets.

It is, but there are different levels of homelessness.

Someone on the streets will take priority over someone who has a car to sleep in. Someone with only a car will take priority over someone who has access to a house with heating and hot water.

It's not fair but councils only have a limited number of resources. Someone who has the ability to sleep on someone's sofa and access a hot shower etc. isn't in danger in the same way someone on the streets is in danger.

Wintersun22 · 09/10/2022 09:25

MyCatIsAChonk · 09/10/2022 09:03

The council will help you, the problem is that the help available might not as good as the situation you're in. As usual other posters are pretending to know what they're talking about while spouting absolute crap. Many areas don't have council housing, they only have emergency accomodation which is not what you want. Trust me. Better safe on a sofa than a hostel. Even the housing associations have large waiting lists, you'll be a higher priority but so many people are in the same situation as you that it doesn't really matter what priority they rank you as.

Some people do know what they are talking about though and have been through it themselves.

Yes some emergency/temporary accommodation can be awful especially if its shared bathroom/kitchen and there can be problems with vermin.

But you never know what your going to be given as temporary/emergency accommodation can be anything from a hostel /hotel to a self contained studio or a self contained flat/house. You cam also appeal it once there.

But being in temporary accommodation does not mean the person gets a council/social housing. They can be moved into private renting if something is found. But they can also bid on social housing whilst in temporary accommodation.

There is not (no) council/social housing. People will have you think that but its not true . Yes there's very little social housing Yes there's a shortage but there's not (no) social housing. But either way a family that needs it can go into temporary accommodation until they find a home even if it is via the private sector.

But saying that in London people can wait for many years but it slso depends on the situation.

Wintersun22 · 09/10/2022 09:45

Op can't get in the position of street sleeping/car sleeping. She has a child its not allowed to happen it is how the system is you do have to tell them you have ( no where) to stay. It's not up to her to worry about people sleeping in cars /streets her prority is her child not other people.

Also people street sleeping or in cars are likely to ve on their own not with children and that comes under a different department. It would come under SHIP for my council (single homless intervention program) op would not come under that.

Its not ops responsibility to worry about other people her prority is her child

Original poster
XxPrincessQueenxX · 09/10/2022 09:46

i mean, I’m more than happy to private rent, I just obviously need a guarantor as i don’t earn a lot of money.

OP posts:
Original poster
XxPrincessQueenxX · 09/10/2022 09:47

And of cause i understand there’s people who are more in need of me, I understand that :)

OP posts:
Ihatethenewlook · 09/10/2022 10:00

PrincessButtercupToo · 09/10/2022 01:56

But she does have somewhere to stay.

Housing is given based on need, the OP should not be getting moved ahead of people with more urgent needs while she does have a place to stay.

Show quote history

I think that the council SHOULD have a duty to house her. But people are mistaken thinking that if they simply say that their family/friend is kicking them out tonight then the council will immediately house them. The assessors are not daft and know that 99% of people are just saying this and there’s no way their friend/family would have them and their child on the street.

mountainsunsets · 09/10/2022 11:29

Wintersun22 · 09/10/2022 09:45

Op can't get in the position of street sleeping/car sleeping. She has a child its not allowed to happen it is how the system is you do have to tell them you have ( no where) to stay. It's not up to her to worry about people sleeping in cars /streets her prority is her child not other people.

Also people street sleeping or in cars are likely to ve on their own not with children and that comes under a different department. It would come under SHIP for my council (single homless intervention program) op would not come under that.

Its not ops responsibility to worry about other people her prority is her child

I've never said she should worry about other people.

But the system will prioritise someone with nowhere to go over someone who does have somewhere to go, even if one person has a child. It's not fair but there isn't an unlimited number of places available unfortunately.

Original poster
XxPrincessQueenxX · 09/10/2022 14:24

well if anyone knows of any companies that can help with guarantor it would be appreciated thank you.

OP posts: