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.

No I'm not planning on still going on the holiday. I'm seeing my stater tomorrow to talk about moving in with her on a temp basis. It's going to be hard for me to move stuff over though as he's never out the house. I packed a car load whilst he was out an hour earlier to take to my parents tomorrow

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.

I'm sure the council aren't making it "dificult" for the sake of it!

I've worked supporting homeless people, including people fleeing DV, for 12 years. The number of homeless applications has risen steadily during that time. If a council doesn't have any vacant temporary accommodation in their area, and there are no refuge vacancies, they frequently have to place people out of area. They can't magic up accommodation where there isn't any, and central government won't allow them the funds to build more council housing.

I've known families have to do a 30-mile round trip twice a day to get the children to and from school while they wait for more local accommodation. One (unusually large) family was placed 100 miles away, because that was the nearest accommodation that was large enough.

The councils in the county where I work will always get people back into area as soon as they possibly can, although I can't promise that all councils follow the same practice.

The housing shortage in this country is ludicrous. It disgusts me that one of the richest countries in the world can't ensure that all its citizens are adequately housed.

Just an update that I left last Friday and i'm now in a refuge. Hoping to get rehoused eventually.

@nowheretorunorhide glad to hear you’re out of the situation safely. I hope you are not too far from your children’s school, and support network. You will look back at this, and see it as your first step back to freedom, and a safe, enjoyable life again. I wish you all good things.