To wonder if the council really can do this? (benefits and friend)

[BerryGood]

About 6 months ago a friend left an abusive husband, they gad also lost their house as he didn't pay the rent on a private rental. She was brought from abroad to marry him by family so hasn't had real opportunity to work and had little idea of the financial side of things.

The council housed her and the 3 children into a neighbouring London borough. She is now losing this property due to a problem with unrelated benefit withdrawal (if it's relevant she filled in a form incorrectly, she does have pretty poor written/ spoken english and I do believe her when she says it was not deliberate. I don't think it actually meant she had more than she was entitled to).

Now both councils are saying it's not their duty to house her, the first because she is no longer living there, the second because it was not through them she was in the property.

Does either of them need to help? Or is she really between both regarding emergency housing?

I would think that the borough she is currently in is the one making her homeless and so should really be the emergency housing provider.
Get her to phone Shelter for advice.
Poor woman - I really hate stories like this.

Get in touch with Citizens Advise. They should be able to help.

If she wants more effective and quick help, she'd be well advised to contact her MP. In fact, a well-written letter explaining the facts is a way in which you could help her.

If she's been found guilty of fraud, that's one thing. Unless she's been interviewed under caution about this, fraud is not even an issue. If fraud isn't an issue, she's losing her home on a paperwork mistake, which is unreasonable in anyone's view. Unless the council are prepared to accuse her of fraud, I'd have thought that they cannot use the excuse that she has made herself intentionally homeless so the evicting council must surely still have an obligation to house her. CAB would be a good place to start.

Hope she manages to solve the problem.

hope she gets is sorted - can she not go home with her dc? must be very scary not being able to speak english :-(

Thank you, she speaks English although her understanding and grammar is weak. I don't think it's anywhere near fraud, it seems to be more a punishment that results in automatic stopping. She's clearly got the wrong end of the stick and isn't explaining it bug I think she hasn't understood about turning up somewhere to retain her benefits if I'm right. I don't think returning home is viable after ten years and with very English dc. She'd be I. A worse position.

She's going to social services for help. Can they help?

I will tell her about shelter, I should have thought of it.