Temporary accommodation advice with kids please.

[TemporaryHousing]

Has anyone got any tips for being put in temporary accommodation please?
I've got ten days before me, DH, and our three Dc move to a Travelodge 20 miles away. I'm so grateful we'll have a roof over our head by the way.

For full transparency though, I'm really frightened.

My eldest son has ASD, but at a mainstream school with an EHCP. Our council have all his paediatrican/ medical letters ect, and I'm also disabled, they have all my medical letters aswell. I'm hoping we'll be priority, but they can't just magic up a house if there aren't any.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any practical tips for the stay, or been in this situation. I've been told to pack very light, and we only have a kettle in the room (which I don't really want to use after reading what people do in them on here 🙈) , and no internet/ fridge. My disability means I can't go out often. I'm not allowed to take an air fryer or microwave. DS1 eats a really limited diet, mainly roast chicken or sausages.
Does anyone have any tips or experience they can help me with please. I've got dominoes, cards, a few books.

Incase it matters, were moving because our landlord is selling our house, I've been here since I was 12 with my parents (I'm 37) and my husband for 16 years, our children have only ever lived here. It's really hard trying to act upbeat and positive at the minute.
Really grateful for any advice or ideas from anyone.

I lived in a premier inn for a bit after fleeing domestic violence.
food - you’ll want cutlery and some plates. Plastic type camping ideal. We did breakfast of fruit/smoothie/croissant/other bread product.

the sink in the bathroom is fine for washing up in.

what cold stuff do your kids eat? Presumably they will get a hot meal once a day at school.

doing hot meals is quite tricky but cold picky bits quite easy - again, fruit and chopped up veg plus protein and carbs.

Thanks so much for replying, I'm sorry that happened to you.

Yes, I have plates and cutlery on my list.
My DC2 is easy and will be happy with most things. Youngest is problematic, I can only think of sandwiches, cucumber, hummus, breadsticks ect. I'm sure that's fine short term.

I'm not sure what's going to happen with their school, there's no public transport and driving everyday is going to eat into our very limited budget. I've asked if they could arrange short term transport but that's for the caseworker to decide. Schools been fantastic and sent emails on our behalf to the council trying to help.

I was told yesterday there isn't a case worker available in March, so I have to take the children and our stuff to the council office on the day and they'll see what they can advise. I'm petrified.

Did your dc adjust quite quickly to all staying in one room? Did they sleep ok? It's probably the least of my worries but I'm really worried for all of our mental health.

My dc did not sleep ok but that wasn’t because of the room. They’d been hurt by their dad and I called the police. They were having nightmares etc. for them being in the same room as me was helpful.

obviously you are not in the same situation. As your child has ASD you may find headphones/earplugs useful (for all if you!) and those eye patch type masks are also good.

Also I'm assuming this is now classed as emergency accommodation.

God, you've really been through it. So sorry to hear this.
How long did it take for you to find somewhere permanent?

I don’t have time to provide a detailed response but I have extensive experience of working in the homelessness sector, including as a solicitor and for the local authority.

The single best thing you can do today is to get free legal advice. Knowing your rights, and what the council’s statutory duties are, is absolutely essential. Whilst the council can’t magic up a house that doesn’t exist, there are complex rules arising both from statute and case law regarding suitability of emergency accommodation, particularly when the accommodation is out of area, has disabled members, and there are children.

Some local authorities are good and responsible, but do not under estimate just how much some will try and fuck you over and completely mislead you. Unfortunately, local authorities are rarely on your side and the staff are very often overstretched and incredibly desensitised to the suffering of the families they accommodate.

As a starting point, Shelter has really clear guidance on all sorts of housing related legal matters. Here is the page about the suitability of emergency accommodation:

https://england.shelter.org.uk/professional_resources/legal/homelessness_applications/suitability_of_accommodation_for_homeless_applicants/suitability_of_homelessness_accommodation

Shelter also have a free helpline where they will be able to talk through your rights in more detail, and answer any questions you might have;

https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help/helpline

However, my advice would be that you find a solicitors’ office or legal centre which has a legal aid contract to provide ongoing free legal advice and representation for you. You can see your nearest providers by typing in your postcode and ticking both the ‘housing’ and ‘housing loss prevention’ boxes:

https://find-legal-advice.justice.gov.uk/

Having somebody legally experienced and knowledgable acting for you, whose job is to advocate and get the very best and lawful outcomes for you, means that you have done everything you possibly can to protect you and to your family.

I have no advice but if you can buy a new kettle if you will use it.

Take each day at a time and get through it the best you can.

I know housing is difficult but putting families in hotel rooms with no cooking facilities I feel is really wrong but I get options are limited. Just a shame a microwave is banned.

Thought I'd quickly update. We got put in a Travelodge yesterday, it's about 16 miles away so not bad. We have two rooms that are pretty spacious to be fair. And they have baths which is great. The staff are really nice aswell.

We now have an emergency case worker for two months who is absolutely lovely.

The kids are doing amazingly well and I managed to get the internet working for us all, but it's very expensive so it will be a treat this first weekend.

Its really not as bad as I thought at all (at the minute lol). Going to visit my mum and dad later.

I'm sorry your in this situation.

Echo the above in getting some legal advice.

For WiFi, you'd be better getting a cheap data contract on your phone and using it to hot spot other devices. I'm with smarty mobile and have 40gb for £6 a month. There's no contract so you can cancel it when you don't need it anymore.

We use these electric lunchboxes for heating up food in a travelodge. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Electric-Upgraded-Heated-Leak-Proof-Perfect/dp/B0DWZ9Y7RT/ref=asc_df_B0DWZ9Y7RT?mcid=ccf897f92ad633f0b638c11d71f5057f&tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=733764682989&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6327464791081415774&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9189915&hvtargid=pla-2400651211413&psc=1&hvocijid=6327464791081415774-B0DWZ9Y7RT-&hvexpln=0&gad_source=1

Its not like having an oven, but its completely fine for heating up a ready meal, or cooking simple pasta and sauce type meals. Its large enough for two people and you can get quite creative! I hope you get a better long term solution soon.

Thanks so much for all your kind replies.

There seems to be different staff working everyday, but they're all so nice. I don't know if they know we're homeless but I'm assuming they can see it on the computer.
It was far worse worrying about where we were going to be put before we got here.

I think DH might be starting to crack up slightly...he took on all the hoovering at home, did it everyday...they have robot vacs here. He's now named his, and has been setting 'challenges' for it with Lego and the kids nail clippings 🙄

I told our emergency caseworker we were so grateful for them helping us and she said no-one had ever said that before.
We've got plenty of room in the Travelodge, and a bath/ shower/ TV, and it's really quiet and not in a loud city centre ,so I still consider us so lucky!

I thought I was going to be a bit better off without paying my (admittedly small) rent this month, (£800),obviously we have/had other bills on top. I definitely won't be any better off lol.

I think I'm going to make a new thread soon, specifically for tips for my youngest sons birthday which is in a few days, I think we'll have to do his cake in the car park because of the candles setting off the fire alarms 🙈

Just a quick update and another thank you for listening to my ramblings lol

Glad to hear your doing ok.

Could you do a small picnic someone for ds birthday. Obviously weather dependent. If a bit chilly include hot chocolate. Hope he has a wonderful day 💞

Positive news I hope it won’t be long before you get a new house x

You have such a lovely attitude, OP. Hope you find a new home soon :)

@TemporaryHousing is there a breakfast area in the Travelodge? would the staff let you do his birthday cake there or too sensitive still do you think?

You're all so kind, thank you so much. We'll have been here two weeks tomorrow.

This Travelodge doesn't have any rooms besides the bedrooms unfortunately, else I'm sure the staff would have let us do the cake there.
I honestly can't fault any of them, they're all so lovely and kind.

There's a young man that works some nights, and he's been giving us the breakfast boxes they're supposed to try and sell, it's water, cornflakes, a small milk and a flapjack. In his words "they're shite, and I'm never going to try and sell one for £6" 😂 he said no-one ever buys them and they throw away about fifteen a day, I made sure he wouldn't get in trouble giving us them.

Another lady behind the front desk told me to never buy toilet rolls (I have been) because they have a cupboard full, and if we want to use the staff fridge for milk or cheese ect we can. (I haven't asked or brought it up again, I'm embarrassed to be honest, but it's so kind of them)

An older man (late 60s/ early 70s) said he'll be joining us soon because his landlords selling aswell and he can't find anywhere. I honestly can't believe the amount of homeless people just here. I think there are nine families now. But he said talked to the manager and she said we shouldn't be paying for WiFi (£33 every three days so we obviously can't get it very often) and she's going to give us the staff Wi-Fi.

I really am so grateful that we've got a roof over our heads, but I have to say I am getting quite lonely, and we have at least another six weeks here. I have to say the kids are being so good though. I'm really proud of them for taking all this in their stride. They're getting on each others nerves but they aren't moaning about having sandwiches every day or not being able to do much.

Even though we're not paying rent now, just eating is crippling us. After the Easter holidays it's going to cost us £100 a week to get the kids to school.
If anyone knows of any grants or help the council could give us with that I'd really appreciate it! My eldest son has an EHCP for his school so I was thinking they might send transport/ taxis, but my youngest is in primary school in the same town, so we'd have to drive him anyway. Should say ZERO buses by the way, or trains. I've asked the council and the school but haven't had a reply.
This is longer than I intended haha, sorry for rambling on.
Hope everyone a good bank holiday weekend

God they couldn't get any nicer! I have to update again, I just went outside and the manager stopped me and gave me a bag of chocolate bunnies and said "I just wanted to say happy Easter to your family" 😭

Please please call Shelter. The maximum stay in a hotel for a family is supposed to be six weeks and you should be offered support with access to school!

@Enterthewolves
thank you!

They said in a letter they had 56 days to place us somewhere, and if they couldn't they would roll over the accommodation.

I did try and call shelter, and web chat before we had to leave our house, but genuinely all lines were busy, even the web chat.
I'll try the web chat again now actually. What can shelter actually do to help us? I know they're a charity, is it just sort of legal advice? We know the basics but everyone that's tried to contact our council housing team, (schools x2, primary and secondary, 3 x GP, a social prescriber from our GP surgery, and our MP) have all had no response or have been told we need to be patient.

To be honest, I'm worried about annoying them, because if there aren't any houses, we'll be in the same position, but if we've questioned or badgered them too much , I don't think they're not going to have much incentive to find us a place.

i just tried Shelter, theyre closed for the bank holiday weekend. I'll try them again on Tuesday. Thanks for reminding me of them. We've been lucky enough to never need to use a charity before, and I always signpost other people to different charities I know of, but completely forgot about shelter.

Have you heard of the Too Go To Go app. You can get some nice hot and cold food items to help.

Have you let their head office know.

I’m so sorry you’re in this situation OP and hope you’re not there for long. The staff sound absolutely lovely

This is very good advice OP.

I would like to say that in my case, because of the threshold for legal aid, I am not entitled, so I am having to go without help, as I can not afford to use my savings for it, when I need them in addition to live on.

i think the school situation means that your MP should also approach the local authority on your behalf. It’s what MPs are for. Make an appointment for their next advice surgery and ask for their help. At the very least, the school transport situation is not sustainable