Social Housing and being unintentionally homless

[nowheretorunorhide]

Does anyone know about housing through council? I am in a position where I am fleeing domestic violence and have been told by the council I am unintentionally homeless, but I can't bid on properties for 56 days. I am desperate to leave and see the council tomorrow with all my documents plus a supporting letter from a DV intervention service. I have two children too, will this speed things up? There is no emergency accommodation in my area or the town I am trying to move to (family and work there) Also no refuge spaces, not that I think I could afford one anyway as it would cost over £900 for 4 weeks.

I don't know a huge amount but have been looking into it recently for a family member. Your circumstances qualify you for emergency housing so they absolutely have a duty to find you somewhere. Unfortunately if none exists then that housing will be somewhere further away. This is not great for you but I don't think there's another option (I'm not 100% sure on this). The important thing is having a roof over your heads and being safe.

The best thing you can do is go to your appointment and explain everything, they will talk you through all of your options and help you get this sorted. Try not to panic, the worst case scenario is emergency housing in a less than ideal location. It is temporary and you will make it through. You have made it through much worse and you're stronger than you think.

xx

@ShartGoblin thank you for replying. I'm worried about school for my daughter and work if we are moved somewhere out of area. I know when we finally get a house she will move school, but I don't want to do many moves for her. I can't just take weeks off work too :( I'm honestly so scared of where we'll end up and what will happen.

In my county they took in to account the ties I had to the area so was only placed in emergency housing (B&B) 25 mins from where I lived.

Was there for 2 months before being offered a place 45 mins away. I took it anyway as this place was a lot nicer than the B&B and have been able to safely build a new life.

Feel free to message me though if you need more advice. I was moved origianlly because of DV too

@traveller11 that's worth knowing, thank you. I've been told by two councils they have no emergency housing or refuge spaces, so i'm really not sure what to do.

This is my line of work. Feel free to PM me

nowheretorunorhide Mine was the same but when you're actually there with no where else to turn to and bags packed up ready to flee they will have to find you somewhere. Quite often they'll 'find' a place has opened up that morning. Although it may be a little while from your current town, it's worth it for the freedom

I'm off to go to the council now. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.

I feel so defeated right now. I have to wait 56 days from today until I can bid on anything at all. I've been told to look at private, but there is nothing close by my family. Refuge is still full and no emergency accommodation. The housing officer is speaking with someone and getting back to me early next week, but i'm not hopeful.

What an awful situation for you. Genuinely hope you get sorted soon.
I live on a council estate and I have two retired ladies near me living alone in 3 bed houses. Why aren’t homeless people put in one of their spare rooms?

When I was fleeing dv it took two support workers to argue with the council to get them to fulfil their requirement to emergency house me. I did two nights in a b and b an hour away, then went to a refuge an hour the opposite way. It's tough but long run worth jt

Are you fleeing immediate danger or imminent danger? Have you reported the violence to police? Police allowed me to sleep on a floor in their offices when I was fleeing. Just one night well about 4 hours recently, but I was then linked in with Women's Aid and given a placement out of the borough.

It really depends on the danger you're in currently.

"I live on a council estate and I have two retired ladies near me living alone in 3 bed houses. Why aren’t homeless people put in one of their spare rooms?"

Because that would be a nightmare to risk assess and if something went wrong after someone was forced to take a stranger into their home the fall out would be massive?

It's emotional and controlling but not violent abuse, so I guess I'm not in immediate danger. The housing officer was lovely and did used to work in that DV area. She's getting back to me next week anyway. Private rent here is so expensive and it will be a real struggle for me even getting UC. I'm suppose to be going on holiday in 4 weeks with my partner and I'm dreading being stuck with him for 2 weeks.

Why would a family want to move into a home with an old lady they don’t know
However lovely?...yes it’s hard when there are older people living in 3/4 bed houses when families are in temp accommodation needing housed (myself being one of those people with kids) but that is the persons home, likely where they brought up family, near family and friends they shouldn’t have to accommodate strangers or feel they need to move out of their home, they are as entitled to it as I am to a home somewhere one day,

op I really hope you find somewhere soon, it’s so hard as a single parent trying to get a secure home, majority don’t take hb/dss (wouldn’t take it if I had any other choice) and there are so little availability for council housing or HA properties. I’ve been moved 3 times and current temp home 3 of my kids in one room it’s pretty grim but warm and a roof but just want somewhere to settle. Hope the housing lady can help and support you it’s a horrible place to be

The council have a statutory duty of care to house you if fleeing from Domestic Violence. They will of course make it difficult, but speak to Shelter and Woman's Aid who can advise you further.

When I got rehoused (into HA) because of domestic violence it was done through a domestic abuse advisor who I was allocated through the police. She put me in the emergency band so I could get somewhere right away.

And mine was emotional rather than physical violence.

I have two retired ladies near me living alone in 3 bed houses. Why aren’t homeless people put in one of their spare rooms?

the council could (and should) find a smaller accommodation for people who don't need more, to free the bigger houses for those who need them, but you can't start intruding other people in someone's home! Would you want a random person moving in your living room and sharing your bathroom?

The soviets tried it, read any testimonies of the times and it's a horrendous nightmare for all concerned.

Excuse my ignorance but is domestic violence ‘emotional and controlling’? Surely that’s not dv but an abusive relationship?

Just trying to understand the terminology

Im surprised they are rehousing you of there is no violence. My council would only do it if you were in danger.

Emotional abuse is just as worthy as violent abuse. OP, I work for an LA housing dept and we no longer place people out of area and do everything we can do ensure you can remain going to work and your children to school. You are likely to be housed, initially, in B&B accommodation but hopefully not for too long. Where a-bouts in the country are you.

Yes there is no violence but controlling and emotional abuse which I have been told is still classed as domestic violence. I have done Clare's law disclosure and spoken with two ex partners and they have confirmed harassment, stalking, threats to kill when they have left. They have also told me about low level violence too. So i am classes as medium to high risk, but I guess that would be high risk when I do actually leave.

I can't really say where I am. I don't want to give too much away on here in case

Do not go on holiday with him. Why would you?

@captainbuttock is that a serious question? You actually think that moving a random homeless person in with a single elderly person is even remotely feasible??
These are people who have probably lived in their houses for 20+ years, why on earth should they be moved on?
What are people on??!!