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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find it all so incredibly confusing? (Housing)

55 replies

UndertheCedartree · 10/01/2023 13:43

I'm helping a friend and just looking for any advice.

She is a 22 yo woman who was made homeless after being in a mother and baby foster placement. Her son was moved to a foster placement in his own right and she was made instantly homeless. She has been sofa surfing for the last 5 months but has now run out of options. She has no family support. She suffers from anxiety, depression, panic attacks and suicidal ideation. She was removed from her mum and put in foster care as a child. She has been through a lot of trauma in her life.

We spoke to the leaving care team who said they couldn't help as she is over 21 (despite their web page saying 25.) We were told to go to a certain homeless charity. When we got there they told us they didn't have the capacity to see her. When we left a man outside sexually harassed us and gave her a panic attack. They told us to go to the council.

At the council they told us to use the phones to phone the housing team. She had previously done a homeless application. They told her she wasn't a priority as she wasn't vulnerable. I went to reception and begged them to help her. I'm concerned that being on the streets would be very dangerous for her and she would likely complete suicide. So the housing team came down to see us. They said the only option was the rent and deposit scheme and gave her a form to fill in. They could do nothing else and said we should go to another homeless charity.

There they said she shouldn't do the rent and deposit scheme as the only properties available would be unsuitable especially considering she has a child. They want her to come back tomorrow to see a psychotherapist to hopefully get her accepted by the council as vulnerable. We then went to the job centre as she had an appointment and the advisor there said she should go down the leaving care route as she would be band A for bidding.

Literally, everyone says something different! Any advice most welcome.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 10/01/2023 21:32

Anyone?

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 10/01/2023 21:57

I’m so sorry, it sounds like she’s had a dreadful time. I know a bit but am by no means an expert. Was the baby removed for child protection reasons? If not, and they were together as a family, they ought to have been considered as priority need under the homelessness legislation and at least given emergency accommodation.

This is a very good charity that has an advise line for care leavers becomecharity.org.uk/get-support/care-advice-line/

She should also try calling Shelter

IDontCareMatthew · 10/01/2023 21:58

Do all they say
All of it

Keep a diary

Where is she staying now? With you?

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 10/01/2023 21:59

What area of the UK are you in? I think all we can do is recommend different charities, how about Rights of Women, go down that route rather than the "homeless" angle?

Inforapenny65 · 10/01/2023 22:08

Does the Local Authority offer care leavers priority housing (usually for a studio flat or one bedroom flat). Perhaps she could get an Advocate who are very good at getting things sorted out for care leavers.

fairgame84 · 10/01/2023 22:14

Her son must have a social worker if he's in Foster care, can they help?

Chesthairlikekingkong · 10/01/2023 22:16

I definitely remember think that the leaving care team/ transition team don't stop being involved until 25. That doesn't mean they can magic up housing but should still support.

JanglyBeads · 10/01/2023 22:22

Have you tried Shelter for advice?

Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:11

Rainallnight · 10/01/2023 21:57

I’m so sorry, it sounds like she’s had a dreadful time. I know a bit but am by no means an expert. Was the baby removed for child protection reasons? If not, and they were together as a family, they ought to have been considered as priority need under the homelessness legislation and at least given emergency accommodation.

This is a very good charity that has an advise line for care leavers becomecharity.org.uk/get-support/care-advice-line/

She should also try calling Shelter

Thank you very much.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:13

IDontCareMatthew · 10/01/2023 21:58

Do all they say
All of it

Keep a diary

Where is she staying now? With you?

Yes, with me but it's very tight as I already sleep on the sofa so it's the 2 of us in the living room. My DC have the bedrooms.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:14

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 10/01/2023 21:59

What area of the UK are you in? I think all we can do is recommend different charities, how about Rights of Women, go down that route rather than the "homeless" angle?

Thank you. We"re in SE England

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:15

Inforapenny65 · 10/01/2023 22:08

Does the Local Authority offer care leavers priority housing (usually for a studio flat or one bedroom flat). Perhaps she could get an Advocate who are very good at getting things sorted out for care leavers.

Care leavers to on Band A for bidding. But the care leavers team won't help.

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:16

Inforapenny65 · 10/01/2023 22:08

Does the Local Authority offer care leavers priority housing (usually for a studio flat or one bedroom flat). Perhaps she could get an Advocate who are very good at getting things sorted out for care leavers.

How would she get an advocate?

OP posts:
Original poster
UndertheCedartree · 11/01/2023 07:18

fairgame84 · 10/01/2023 22:14

Her son must have a social worker if he's in Foster care, can they help?

He does but she can't help (not her remit). It's frustrating as of course her social situation and knock on effect on mental health will affect her DS.

OP posts:
Lincolnremain · 11/01/2023 07:22

Why are her and her son separated?

Lincolnremain · 11/01/2023 07:23

If she was with her son they would get emergency accommodation.

DontSpeakLatinInFrontOfTheBooks · 11/01/2023 07:24

I don’t know what to suggest that you haven’t already done but wanted to say how fucking appalling it is that someone who is clearly vulnerable is not being treated as such. She is a care leaver, 0 family support, recently lost custody of her child and has mental health issues. It’s barbaric to treat someone in this situation like that.

Lincolnremain · 11/01/2023 07:25

If she is not making a homeless application with her son then you need to say she can't stay at yours anymore and you need to go to the council and say that she has nowhere else to go

Lincolnremain · 11/01/2023 07:25

DontSpeakLatinInFrontOfTheBooks · 11/01/2023 07:24

I don’t know what to suggest that you haven’t already done but wanted to say how fucking appalling it is that someone who is clearly vulnerable is not being treated as such. She is a care leaver, 0 family support, recently lost custody of her child and has mental health issues. It’s barbaric to treat someone in this situation like that.

Absolutely

Lincolnremain · 11/01/2023 07:37

Care leavers to on Band A for bidding. But the care leavers team won't help*

She doesn't need their help. Just proof that she is a care leaver and she can go on band A

Kinnorafron · 11/01/2023 07:47

I can't help but I wanted to wish you well - it's a great thing you are doing.

Proteinpudding · 11/01/2023 07:47

I think the issues are getting confused here

  • She can get advice as a care leaver, but not accommodation.
  • it isn't clear from your post if she would be classed as a care leaver (eg if she grew up in care or went back to family)

Most significantly though

  • housing are assessing her as a single person. If the child is in foster care they don't count for her housing app in any way.
  • almost all single people are classes as non priority homeless which means not entitled to emergency housing.
-some councils will give those with care leaver status priority for bidding for properties but not always for emergency housing. -its horrible, but people with housing issues are assumed to be depressed and to be vulnerable on the streets. Unless she has some exceptional reason - a significant learning disability, medical condition that requires complex treatment etc - she wouldn't get priority status. IF she has 'care leaver' status some councils will give their care leavers priority but not all, and the rules about whether she has it would be very specific and not discretionary. Care leaver status is based on rules around whether she was in care around 17th birthday for a certain amount of time
  • the default option is to find private rented which she has been advised to do
  • at her age she would need to check the level of benefits she'd be entitled to if she's not working, it's possible she may need to consider a houseshare
  • in some areas there will be charities that have options of supported accommodation or hostels for young people age 18-25 but this is area specific and is still house sharing.

I wonder from your post if she got the advice not to private rent because she's talking about her child. It's really sad, but if the child is in foster care (even if no long term decision has been made yet) she can't be trying to get accommodation that would be suitable for a family with the goal of getting him back. Similar to how if parents separate, the non resident parent can't get on the housing list or get a place with a spare room for their child to stay for when they have custody.

A lot of people here are saying that the council will have to do something if their hand is forced. Unless there's a duty around her being a care leaver, the sad fact is they don't. They can give her phone numbers to try hostels, suggest she goes to a city where they might have hostels and tell her she needs to find a friend she can stay with. Councils can and do leave people with nowhere to stay when they are single. That's why people sofa surf and sleep rough.

Proteinpudding · 11/01/2023 07:51

Sorry for the weird formatting in my post!
Definitely get it confirmed if she has 'care leaver status' and if she has, that needs to be updated for both her homeless app and her housing app, to see if it changes her priority or banding.

lilyfire · 11/01/2023 07:53

Is she is care proceedings now - that are still going through the court? If so her solicitor should be able to make a fuss to get some LA help and make sure they are fulfilling their obligations under the Leaving Care Act which may well include the duty to give support and advice as well as housing assistance.

HangerLaneGyratorySystem · 11/01/2023 09:27

Have you tried DePaul Trust? And Why on earth was the mother and baby foster withdrawn? That’s what meant she list her child!

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