I can’t believe it’s happened again

[Booboobooboo84]

I’m desperately trying to get myself moved out of a domestic violence refuge. I’m unable to work while here due to the rent being £300 pw so have to rely on benefits. Just saying as don’t want to dripfeed or for it to look like I’m expecting a handout. I just hope for a handup so that I can get back to work. I only intend to need to claim hb for my first month in the new flat.

My issue is I keep getting to the top of the list and the housing associations ask for 2 months rent upfront. Not a problem the council can arrange this within about 72 hours. I currently live on £56 pw after paying service charges so saving £1200 is out of my reach.

My aibu is I’m just so distraught at the fact that the housing associations only give you a day to find the money despite knowing it will take the council 72 hours. So in the last few weeks I’ve been offered 4 suitable flats (and I would snap up anything at all) but not one housing association will give the time needed to raise the 2 months. Even with the housing officers intervention. One today even sent me armed with a letter committing that the council will pay any costs but the housing association was like nope cash or nothing.

I’m going to be in this refuge forever aren’t I. I can’t move to a different area as the home office chose this one for my own safety. I’ve looked into a gofundme but can’t do anything that might identify me pubically for my own safety.

I just don’t know if I’m being ur to think it’s so so wrong

I will add that councils do prioritise people with children, I wondered if that could have been the issue... however, given that you have had to change your identity suggests to me there was a real threat to your life, given that it was necessary to change your identity in order to protect you also indicates you are severely high risk and vulnerable hence you would be of the highest priority, that is why I then struggle with the rest.....

Apologies and not offended, If your story is genuine then I’m very sad the system has let you down this way and angry for what you are going through, you are showing a depth of strength and resilience most others wouldn’t be capable of in your situation and that’s something you should be proud of, most people working in the benefits system are very human and compassionate and would ‘move the earth’ to help someone in your situation, sometimes it’s meeting that good person and them doing their best for you that makes the difference and unfortunately it seems all you have met I say the ‘computer says no’ mentality.

@imsosceptical I am of the highest priority. That is why I’m band A and top of the list. I’ve also explained in previous posts where others are managing to get the money from. I’m aorry you don’t believe me but I’m not going to spend my time convincing you otherwise.

Most people I’ve encountered have been wonderful. Absolutely phenomenal. If they weren’t I would have topped myself long ago.
The housing associations used to make an exception to the 2 month rule. They now don’t. That’s their perogative. But it is getting me down.

It may be worth pointing out I’ve had alovely person offer to pay the housing association for me if the council can pay her back but unfortunately the council can only pay the housing association back for it. I can’t say how much I appreciate that offer though and wanted to publically acknowledge it. Without outing the amazing person

Hi, Im sorry I can't help you, but I'm sending you my support and hope you can find a way to get out! I admire you for being so strong and not giving up.

Do properties come up very often? Would it be possible to apply for the money for one house which you will then lose (and just to get it off my chest FUCK THE TORIES and these evil things they love to do to the most vulnerable, what a pack of cunts) and then apply it to the next?

Different housing associations sometimes have different rules though. My friend got a house with Orbit and paid a week in advance the day she moved in - then she filed a HB claim, and just dodged the eviction letters until it was finally paid! Google 'housing advocacy' for your area. There may be a local charity that can assist.

Thank you @paristoile I think all I need is just a bit of support like this to confirm to me that it’s maddening and just so I don’t feel I’m asking too much.

@brendasumbrella I’m offered approx 1 a week at the min an dno unfortunately I need to apply to the council for each one cos understandably they need to confirm details with the HA. And I very much agree with fuck the torries.

If your friend paid the HA and then the LA paid the HA then presumably your rent account would be in credit. Would you be able to ask the HA to return that credit to you? What is their policy on that? (Or would the LA not pay once your friend had?)

The LA will only pay when I have no where else to get it from. Unfortunately. But it was lovely of the poster to offer. I did not write this post expecting any response really but that was incredible and everyone’s responses have been incredible

There is military background but again that would involve my family finding my identity.

I don't think it would, SSAFA would be bound by data protection but anyway, you could call and ask them without revealing your name for now, just see what they say about the situation. They help military, ex mili and families of military. Esp if you have DC who are descendants of military - give it a go, it can't hurt to at least ask them.

Could you speak to the council about a Discretionary Housing Payment? They should be able to help you - it’s costing more to keep you in refuge than you need in deposit. The fund is usually used for rent arrears etc, but seems like a logical use of it? Sorry if you’ve already tried this route - your housing officer has maybe already suggested it?

I would imagine there is a whole heap of people stuck in EA because of this issue, I can’t imagine, given the nature of EA that many of them have a few months rent in advance stuffed up their sleeves.... given HA’s prioritise vulnerable people/families, they must have plenty of empty housing stock if all they accept is hard cash on the day, what a crazy situation, I’m at a loss thinking about it

Discretionary payment won't help BeyondReason as you can only get one where you are actually in receipt of Housing Benefit.
OP, I am quite shocked the HA only accept cash as that is not common practice. As a pp said they are social landlords and usually big(ish) organisations. I've never heard of that in 17 years in local authority jobs. The various ones I have dealt with have had all the modern payment methods.
Must be peculiar to your area.
I really don't know what else to suggest seems like you've done everything. I guess the refuge need to do more to help you if they want the room back.

All they have ever asked for is cash to be brought to the viewings and when I haven’t managed it they have instantly gone to the next person on the list. Often in front of me. They get five people viewing at once.

Must be so frustrating. And just because you rely on help, that doesn't mean that you have to just grin and bear whatever flawed system is on offer. Poor organisation wastes everyone's time, not just yours; the sooner it gets sorted out the better.

Are these always different organisations or is there any way you can try to build up a personal rapport with someone at the housing association, so that they might understand the problem and feel bad about passing you over?

I don't know if you have already tried it or if it is a safe enough option for you, but it might be worth calling Shelter england.shelter.org.uk/?_ga=2.41040034.1897215093.1520350497-645728270.1520350496

I think they can sometimes intervene on your behalf.

There have recently been a lot of changes to the benefits system, and also to HAs, many of which have been privatised or changed hands, so they are less interested in their actual core purpose and more interested in the bottom line. So I don't find OP's problems implausible.

Have you spoken to Ssfa? I know you said you couldn't risk family finding out, but unless they work for SSFA in a IT capacity where they could search all files, you should be able to contact them and they'll keep your details private - they are good at that and it won't be the first time. (And if your family is in that position you should still talk to them and see if there is a way around it).

Op.

Why haven’t you addressed this with your specialist officer, you have one it’s part of the process for an official identification change and part of their job is your housing and resettlement.

I have @needsasockamnesty they were the ones that placed me in the refuge and handed over to local housing to support me when I was ready to move.

I just got off the phone with SSFA unfortunately I’m not eligible for support as I’m not closely related enough to the person that was in the military.

That’s not how it should be done op, the point of them is they coordinate everything without turning you over to be dealt with solely by local agencies, they are meant to lead your multi agency plan.
I would strongly suggest you get back in contact with them urgently

With all due respect @needsasockamnesty I’ve contacted them and they are doing what they can. But they handed me over to local housing because at the time I needed time in a refuge to heal physically and emotionally. And we didn’t know how long that would take. So they handed over so I could resume as normal a possible life.

I don’t know what your experience is with regards to it and how you can do forcefully state what they are and aren’t meant to be doing. But this is the situation I am in.

I would also agree with PP that you need to contact your local councillors as they are very effective and I have witnessed everything being dropped in a department to immediately deal with what the Councillor is concerned about. It might also be worth raising an official complaint with the Housing Association and/or writing to the Chief Executive; I once managed to get a LA HR pic changed by complaining to the CE how it unintentionally affected me. Get back to your specialist officer and get them to lead on this - they should do their job and not just dump you in this situation.,leaving the LA to cope. Maybe go up tthe tree there too if you can.

Best of luck and I really hope that things get sorted out for you.

time in a refuge is fairly standard Boo but being left with no resettlement isn’t.

I’m incredibly disturbed that someone in your situation has been left in the situation you have and for this to have happened means someone has not done their job correctly and that would usually be the person coordinating the process. It’s a violation of their responsibility.