Page 4 | to think this temporary accommodation isnt safe?

mspmsp · 2014-05-09T05:59:51+00:00

The council placed me and my son in a bed and breakfast, which is actually just a house share with two random men, 90 miles away from where I've lived my entire life. Maybe iabu cause ots better than the street, but its terrifying. I'm 23 with a 9 month old baby and I have no idea who these people are, everyone i know is miles away i have no idea what to do. What of the babys sick can i just take him to any doctors? Or any hv clinic? Worse thing us im quite sure my housing officer did this out of spite as she tried her hardest to just leave us with no help, and my council have never put anyone this far away (read it in the freedom of info bit on their site) I just have no idea wtf to do. I could handle living with random men if i wad at least close to family but i just feel completely stuck out here on my own.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 09/05/2014 13:36

Have you rung Shelter yet. Ring them and get specific advice on what rights you have and how to approach the council effectively.

parakeet · 09/05/2014 13:41

I don't see why it's unsafe.

I spent most of my twenties in house shares with "random" men and women, because I couldn't afford my own place.

Sharing an ordinary house sounds preferable to a B&B, from what I hear.

Stripyhoglets · 09/05/2014 13:59

Ring shelter ASAP, you need to challenge the decision to put you in this temporary accomodation as it's not suitable even for temporary accomodation.

Sarahplane · 09/05/2014 14:40

Hi op, they hopefully are nice guys that you are sharing with but I would feel very scared and vulnerable in your position too. Can you say what general area you are in and where you previously lived? I might be able to give more specific advice. Does either area have a housing or welfare rights service or help with deposits? Have you looked into private renting? It's not ideal but better than being in a b&b with strangers.

HeartHotWaterBottle · 09/05/2014 14:48

I was a bit confused about the B&Bs, are the owners not based on site?

OurMiracle1106 · 09/05/2014 15:21

I know I may be jumping ahead a bit but if you can find a rent deposit scheme (davish will help you have to go for an interview though at some point) you can help yourself to find somewhere permanent rather than possibly be moved from one place to another. It might be private renting but you have greater choice of where you go

NeedsAsockamnesty · 09/05/2014 18:54

heart

Often they are not normal b&b's the entire building will be used by the homelessness dept and often the owner is nowhere to be seen ever and they have never even seen a tourist

ClashCityRocker · 09/05/2014 19:11

There's a big difference between living in a house share and a temporary accommodation B and B, in my experience.

I left home at sixteen and did the whole moving between b and bs and hostel thing for a couple of years - it was horrific. There were some people who were just in there due to bad luck, but the majority had substance abuse issues and many came from very difficult circumstances with all the social problems that arise from that.

In my last house there were seven other people living with me. One was a nice enough chap who had separated from his partner and kicked out of his home, two were heroin addicts who used to leave the bathroom bloodstained and be frequently found passed out in the kitchen, one was a pregnant girl who was a couple of years older than me whose abusive on/off partner used to come and another was an ex-prostitute who suffered from bipolar disorder amongst various other issues. The rest, bar one lad who kept himself to himself, were all seriously heavy drinkers.

It just doesn't compare to a traditional house share, and is very scary, so I can totally see where OP is coming from. There is also stigma attached to being in that kind of accommodation and it is very depressing.

OP, you need some support. Get on to shelter, explain the situation and they may be able to refer you to other charities or groups that can help you out of this.

ClashCityRocker · 09/05/2014 19:12

I don't think I ever met the owner of any of the places, either tbh.

twofingerstoGideon · 09/05/2014 19:36

Parakeet you are not seriously suggesting that living with 'random' people in a house share that you have chosen is comparable to being moved 90 miles from familiar surroundings, to a place where you know no-one, with a young baby in tow, and being made to share accommodation with strangers of a different sex whose backgrounds or habits you know nothing about.

I have both house-shared in rented houses and been in hostel accommodation that was not of my choosing. Believe me, there is no comparison.

Original poster

mspmsp · 09/05/2014 20:27

Thankyou for the advice everyone, i really had no idea what to do. Positive thing: complained to my housing officer about being placed with only two men and no one else, she refused to help so asked to speak to manager, who has arranged with the owner to move me into a different house (still in the same area 90 miles away) where there is a woman with two kids, and a single man staying there, which seems a lot less scary knowing someone else with children will be there, and I won't be alone with only men.
Got back today to one of the men kicking their door down- apparently they changed the locks as he didn't pay his rent but all his stuff was inside. Luckily he managed to get in after 20 mins or so otherwise he may have kicked off.

OP posts:

Original poster

mspmsp · 09/05/2014 20:27

Thankyou for the advice everyone, i really had no idea what to do. Positive thing: complained to my housing officer about being placed with only two men and no one else, she refused to help so asked to speak to manager, who has arranged with the owner to move me into a different house (still in the same area 90 miles away) where there is a woman with two kids, and a single man staying there, which seems a lot less scary knowing someone else with children will be there, and I won't be alone with only men.
Got back today to one of the men kicking their door down- apparently they changed the locks as he didn't pay his rent but all his stuff was inside. Luckily he managed to get in after 20 mins or so otherwise he may have kicked off.

OP posts:

Original poster

mspmsp · 09/05/2014 20:50

Difficult to answer all questions, I've a very grumpy baby on my hands trying to get him back into his routine. Have tried phoning shelter but haven't been able to get through yet so will try again tomorrow, been a busy day I left a lot of things behind as they gave me two hours from leaving the housing office to get here (it wad about a 3 hour drive... Rush hour)
That's the kind of thing that males me think my housing officer is trying to be unhelpful, as the woman who owns this place phoned me and said that they had told get I would be there by five bit she knows I won't be able to get there on time and not to worry. When I told my housing officer that it was impossible, she told me I had no choice but to make it possible if I dont want to be on the street, I mean seeing as the woman who owns it didn't care when I got here and actually told me to come later,and just ring wheb im 20 mins away so she could get there to meet me... why on earth would they decide to tell me I HAD to be there in two hours or id be on the street? Its difficult to believe she wants to help me at all. I also said I i didn't need the cot, as I've got his travel cot and id prefer him to sleep in that, which resulted in my housing officer phoning me, telling me that I am irresponsible to not use the cot!? Because she is now in charge of every aspect of my life apparently.( and yes he is in his travel cot NOT the dirty one with the stained mattress that stinks, that it would allegedly be more responsible of me to put him in.

OP posts:

Original poster

mspmsp · 09/05/2014 20:50

Difficult to answer all questions, I've a very grumpy baby on my hands trying to get him back into his routine. Have tried phoning shelter but haven't been able to get through yet so will try again tomorrow, been a busy day I left a lot of things behind as they gave me two hours from leaving the housing office to get here (it wad about a 3 hour drive... Rush hour)
That's the kind of thing that males me think my housing officer is trying to be unhelpful, as the woman who owns this place phoned me and said that they had told get I would be there by five bit she knows I won't be able to get there on time and not to worry. When I told my housing officer that it was impossible, she told me I had no choice but to make it possible if I dont want to be on the street, I mean seeing as the woman who owns it didn't care when I got here and actually told me to come later,and just ring wheb im 20 mins away so she could get there to meet me... why on earth would they decide to tell me I HAD to be there in two hours or id be on the street? Its difficult to believe she wants to help me at all. I also said I i didn't need the cot, as I've got his travel cot and id prefer him to sleep in that, which resulted in my housing officer phoning me, telling me that I am irresponsible to not use the cot!? Because she is now in charge of every aspect of my life apparently.( and yes he is in his travel cot NOT the dirty one with the stained mattress that stinks, that it would allegedly be more responsible of me to put him in.

OP posts:

Original poster

mspmsp · 09/05/2014 20:50

Difficult to answer all questions, I've a very grumpy baby on my hands trying to get him back into his routine. Have tried phoning shelter but haven't been able to get through yet so will try again tomorrow, been a busy day I left a lot of things behind as they gave me two hours from leaving the housing office to get here (it wad about a 3 hour drive... Rush hour)
That's the kind of thing that males me think my housing officer is trying to be unhelpful, as the woman who owns this place phoned me and said that they had told get I would be there by five bit she knows I won't be able to get there on time and not to worry. When I told my housing officer that it was impossible, she told me I had no choice but to make it possible if I dont want to be on the street, I mean seeing as the woman who owns it didn't care when I got here and actually told me to come later,and just ring wheb im 20 mins away so she could get there to meet me... why on earth would they decide to tell me I HAD to be there in two hours or id be on the street? Its difficult to believe she wants to help me at all. I also said I i didn't need the cot, as I've got his travel cot and id prefer him to sleep in that, which resulted in my housing officer phoning me, telling me that I am irresponsible to not use the cot!? Because she is now in charge of every aspect of my life apparently.( and yes he is in his travel cot NOT the dirty one with the stained mattress that stinks, that it would allegedly be more responsible of me to put him in.

OP posts: