Homelessness

[XxPrincessQueenxX]

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

Some councils work with private LL and will also provide a bond and first rent if eligible via a DHP. The council cannot stop you applying to be on the council list so if you haven’t done it you need to.
What reason did they give for not helping you?

H

The Vicar’s Relief Fund may be able to advise/help. No religious strings attached.

www.smitfc.org/the-vicars-relief-fund/

They don't have to accept everyone on the list.

Assuming you’re not with the baby’s father, or connected with his family? Whose house were you living in? Your mother’s?

When you say sofa surfing is this family?

In my local council in Scotland there is division called Homefinders. I believe they are a charity. They engage with people on low incomes and benefits and essentially help find affordable housing in the private sector. They have a list of property owners and can negotiate paying up the deposit over a period of time, say 6 months and they also guarantee the deposit if you fail to pay. Might be worth contacting the local housing department at your council to see if they have anything similar. I wish you all the luck in your search.

I was in your position 20years ago at 17. I sat in the council office from the moment they opened until closing time as I had nowhere to go. They found me emergency accomadation in a hostel.

I stayed between two hostels for nearly a year until I was given a council flat.

I'm not sure how it all works now but there were priority levels then. They may not see it as urgent if they think you have friends to stay with.

Alternatively, ringing estate agents and private landlords to discuss your situation may be helpful is you have a deposit together.

I think personally in the long run going down the route of council housing is best as I found the support from the hostel keyworkers amazing and at the end of that horrible year I had a safe, secure home.

I hope everything works out for you and you too will look back on this hard time and realise how far you've come, you aren't letting anyone down. Good luck with everything.

Sorry my previous post somehow posted a random sentence!

I was posting the below.

They don't have to accept everyone on the list

I didnt say they did. Please read my post again I clearly said they cannot stop her applying to be on the list.

The general council housing list is different to applying for homelessness which it what op needs to do

The council I work for will help with securing tenancies & paying the bond/first month rent upfront by way of a Discretionary Housing Payment or DHP.
If you are prepared to say what area you are in or what council you come under, we might be able to help further. Are you working and/or in receipt of Universal credit?

Hi, no not with my baby dad, and definitely not connected with his family. Yes I was living with my mum & sofa surfing between 2 of my friends.

You realise that a guarantor has to say that they will pay your rent if you don't? Why would a company agree to do that?

what council do you work for ? & I’m on UC

To help people like me🤣

Tomorrow morning, early

get up and dressed
get your baby ready
gather together any documents you have that you think might be relevant
and go straight to citizens advice

This. My council will pay deposit.

The council should of put you and your child in temporary accommodation ie a B&B or mother and baby facility until permanent housing became available.
I was in this position 17 years ago when I had my son, my mum gave me a letter when I was pregnant at 17 and the council put me in a B&B, do go back to them and tell them you have nowhere to go and you and your baby will be on the streets tonight, take the letter and get on the housing list too.
You will have to take anything they offer but it's the first step towards permanent housing.

www.nelincs.gov.uk/benefits/extra-money-for-rent-and-council-tax/

I work for North East Lincolnshire council.

Op on the basis of this thread, you need someone to advocate and articulate your situation and that is why I urge you to get to Citizens advice first thing tomorrow as they will advocate for you.

Are you in the council area you lived in previously? You need to have lived in an area a set number of years.

Do go back to them, they can help with rent guarantor schemes

A quick Google will show you that there are companies that do exactly that, for a whacking fee every month.

Mine will pay deposit and 6 months upfront, didn’t help a friend of mine recently. Single mother, working in a graduate job, decent salary, homeowner Guarantor, good credit. The words “single with children” are all the excuse EAs need to refuse to let you view.

hi there, yes i'm still in the Council area I lived in when I was at my mums house.

I am Kirklees Council :)