To be pissed off with how difficult the council make it to get housed

[AiryFairyUnicornRainbow]

I know they have long waiting lists etc...but currently i am helping a homeless family

They have fk all and are sofa surfing. It is heart breaking. They were evicted from their old place LL was selling up

Today the council demand proof of correspondence address or they will cancel their housing application. They don't have bills or benefits letters or anything to tie them to ANY address as they are no fixed abode and havent for a while now

This is just the latest in a long list of hoops this family have had to jump through for the last six months, to attempt to even get where they are now

It is so frustrating. This family are so deserving. They try so hard and are constantly having to leap through hoops

ARGH
rant over

If their local councillor isn’t responding then get them to turn up at his next surgery and speak to him in person. Preferably all six of them to shame him.

So in order to prove you are homeless you have to prove you have an address? You couldn't make it up, could you.
Just a thought, will the council accept a legal affidavit from the homeowner where they are staying?

So in order to prove you are homeless you have to prove you have an address? You couldn't make it up, could you

You are so right, you really couldn't

I have offered a signed letter from myself, as a homeowner, or anything else they want, but no, its not acceptable, it HAS to be something with their name on, to my address.

If their local councillor isn’t responding then get them to turn up at his next surgery and speak to him in person. Preferably all six of them to shame him

Deffo..This is something we were speaking about this afternoon, exactly this. This councillor, he must have had a dozen emails, and several phone calls, however the only time any of us have managed to get hold of him was when we caught him 'on the hop' the first contact. After that, all calls rang out and all emails went read, but unanswered.

We have even contacted the local newspapers, but get ignored. its such a travesty that a young hard working family get treated like this, having to keep proving time and again that they aren't trying to shag the system (sorry for the term) and literally none of it is their fault.

They are scared shitless that they have done wrong but they haven't, they work hard, don't claim (not that it would/should make a difference) and try so hard...my heart bleeds.

They are so scared and nervous about what is going to happen next to them. They have lived in this city all their lives, and have had to prove twice that they have a local connection..even though both have been employed for years in this city. One of the adults is in such panic about it, that they have been admitted to a&e twice in the last couple of weeks, due to declining mental health.

before this all happened, they were (adults) both fine. its really taking its toll, having to fight the system, and that is literally what it is, fight the system, for a basic thing, which they are willing to pay for

This councillor he has a surgery once a month, and his next one is in ten days, and if things have not changed by then,we will definitely be there

Bloody ridiculous that is what it is

This homeless situation (in this country) is diabolical.

AiryFairy You and the family have my utmost sympathy. I work for a local authority and I know what a horrific problem homelessness is, and how hard it is to get help and navigate the system. Mind you, we don't ask for proof of correspondence address - for obvious reasons. What an absurd rule!

Are there children in the family? I can't see if you've mentioned it, unless we've cross-posted.

you can never see your bidding position to know how near to being housed you are It doesn't work like this I'm afraid. It used to; the length of time you'd spent on the waiting list used to contribute to being moved up the list to be housed. But a few years ago, the rules changed and now it is all about priority need, ie who is in the most urgent need of being housed.

So every time you bid on a property, you are competing against all the other people who have also bid on it. Depending how many people made a bid and what their circumstances are, you could be in twenty ninth position one week, fourth the next and one hundred and eleventh the next. That is why most councils no longer reveal your bidding position because it really means very little in terms of how long you will be waiting to get to the top of the list.

People with medical needs or disabilities who are housed but not adequately so, usually get priority over people without medical needs or disabilities, even if those without are actually homeless.

This homeless situation (in this country) is diabolical Yes it is and most people don't have any idea just how bad it is.

I don't blame local Councils, though I can see why people would. They are hamstrung by legislation and lack of resources. It is central Government's policies which have created this perfect storm of a housing crisis. Fuckers.

Thanks LauderSyme

No there are no children, a very devoted hard working couple, childhood sweethearts, bless them.

They are (well were) priority banded - medical need (as opposed to homeless band)...but now there housing application has been suspended pending them providing this impossible proof of correspondence address.

In our city you are told (whether it true or not) that length of time on the housing list does matter, but only within your own banding.....for them, a person with medical needs who has been bidding for two months would get housed slower than a person bidding for one month....but i see what you mean bout it showing very little in terms of how quickly a person may get housed

There is so much go in to it. They only want a one bed flat / or even studio, and although it is obvious there is a shortage, I would have thought these easier to come across than a three bed house for example

I know the councils have a hard job, but for the pple who really need it, it really feels like the support is not there...and every time i see them, i try to gee them up and tell them it will all be Ok and everything is being done............................but in reality i feel a fraud......as they could be waiting a long time, even if they get 'un' suspended.

Perhaps because people pop out kids and don’t take any responsibility?

Honestly, I need a vodka.

I feel like every word I say to this family , they are hanging on it

and i feel it is ripping me apart watching them do it.

You are right though my love, it is not the fault of the councils that there is not enough homes to go round

In my time, I have seen a lot of homeless come and go (from our service), some folk really get to you, like this couple....and others, are repeat service users, they will be rehoused after extensive time on the streets and you know you will see the poor souls again 18 months or so down the line...but this couple I just know...all they need is a chance.

Perhaps because people pop out kids and don’t take any responsibility

To whom, are you referring?

They only want a one bed flat / or even studio, and although it is obvious there is a shortage, I would have thought these easier to come across than a three bed house for example

With the bedroom tax and increase in homelessness, that's sadly not the case.

Perhaps because people pop out kids and don’t take any responsibility

After nearly 10 years of austerity, get fucking real.

After nearly 10 years of austerity, get fucking real

Indeedy

It is almost as crazy as the myth that teenage girls got pregnant to get a council house - a few years back

I never understood the brains behind that one. Have the pple who say this shit even thought about what they are saying

This is all just too damn sad for words. Honestly from my dealings with the council and experience this seems like the norm though...
You give them every bit of paper and somehow they lose it or say they don't have it when really you know they are just stalling because they know a bidding number is no guarantee there is no holy grail of adequate council housing on the other side. There is just inadequate social housing or poor standard private rentals and years of housing limbo.
Some people seem to get a place in months but for most it takes years, and they will find any piece of red tape possible to keep you away from a council house because most of the time one simply does not exist for you.
I have seen sick people die waiting. And people with less need jump the queue somehow.

We need austerity to end. People act like its bums who are not being helped. No, it is the working classes.
God forbid you dare be working class in Britain... How dare they!

On my council website there is accomadation that is privately owned, but is at a reasonable price. Have you asked them to look at this. Also look at websites that advertise to rent a room. Some councils have 20,000+ people on their waiting lists and a huge amount of people waiting for emergency or temporary housing. Some people are being offered housing 100s of miles away. Does the council offer to loan a deposit, if they find their own housing

Well if they hadn't sold them we wouldn't be in the shit now.
Every single one that I know who bought their council house/flat at ridiculously low prices has now either sold it for vast profit or is renting it.

The sell off has to be the most stupid idea ever !!

If you take an eviction notice to the council, they'll tell you to stay until your evicted forcibly, otherwise your making yourself homeless.

It's backwards. These people have no morals. I'd never work for them as they are so horrible

So in order to prove you are homeless you have to prove you have an address?

No, you have to prove where you used to live! That's the council that has the legal duty to help you.

In our city you are told (whether it true or not) that length of time on the housing list does matter, but only within your own banding..

I think that's pretty much the same everywhere. If there are lots of bids on a property from applicants in the top band, it is generally offered to the one who's been in that band the longest.

I didn't realise they didn't have children, OP. For the council to have a duty to house them under homelessness, their medical issues would have to be pretty severe (severe enough to make them especially vulnerable if they had to sleep rough).

Most councils have a scheme where they can lend money for rent in advance/deposit/fees. Have they been offered this so that they can rent privately?

It's also worth registering with a website called Places For People. Housing associations use it for properties that they let directly to applicants, rather than by council nomination. It's only for people in work, I use it a lot with working clients. And if they're prepared to move out of area, they could register with Homefinder UK.