Unreasonable old friend ignoring eviction-SS won't bring her here will they?

[canthelp]

An old friend who has become more and more unreasonable and paranoid in recent years is going to be evicted and I am really afraid she will be brought to me. I can't take her in. What happens if social services bring her to my doorstep?

She is adamant that court orders and repossession notices etc mean nothing, and it is all just a scam

I have helped her a lot in the past, but am in poor health now, and can do absolutely no more, but there isn't really anyone else either, as she turns down all other help from social services, etc

What happens on the day she is evicted if she gives my name and address? I would have to literally shut the door in her face, wouldn't I?

The only way to do it is to NOT give your name and withhold your number before you call!!!!

I had relatives who basically had to say no to being neighbour support and going round few times a day and doing personal care with people/authorities on phone trying to coordinated being the first they'd heard of it.

Turned out neighbours without any consultation had said they were prepared to do that.

They had to be very firm No and came under huge emotional pressure because all the care had been built round them doing the bulk of the care - and they wished they knew what was being suggested and could have objected earlier.

But given SchoolTripDrama experience maybe trying to head off is not the way to go.

If she is a private tenant she will have more than likely been told to stay put in house untill evicted council can then get emergency accommodation for her, if she leaves before evicted then she is classed as making herself homeless so no emergency accommodation.

I don't know why you would think this. This wouldn't even happen if she were your (adult) child.

See @SchoolTripDrama 's post about her neighbour. OP's concerns aren't that far-fetched.
I had a hospital social worker try to persuade me to quit my job to provide full-time care for DH's Grandmother who had Dementia after she accidentally started a fire in her house and it was clear she couldn't go back there.

I’ve witness such an eviction before from a private tenancy

then, and it was a while ago, police called ambulance who took tenant away. She then spent some time in a mental health unit. Landlord was forced to store her belongings until family came for them

You don’t sound callous at all

take care of yourself first

you’ve done all you can and more, and sometimes the best way to help someone is to step back and say you cannot

When is the eviction? It would help if you are mentally prepared for the actual day and braced to resist all requests. Do you have someone who could be with you as moral support? Do not feel guilty. Do not open the door or even talk through the letterbox. Do not accept her possessions to store. In this instance, you have to show tough love so that SS step up.

Adult social services are so incredibly overstretched that if there is even a hint of somebody else being available, they will do their utmost to push you into caring for her.

So I would strongly advise you report her to social services as being vulnerable and expected to be evicted shortly, but do not give your name or contact details.

If she tells them you’ll be helping, they will call you - you need to stay firm that it is an absolute no. No, you cannot offer her any support. No, you are housebound and would not be able to visit her. No, she cannot stay with you. Do not give an inch, do not agree to do anything at all, do not agree to have any further conversations about her needs.

Would it be helpful to write yourself a list of useful phone numbers which you could share with her when it happens if she contacts you?

Council / homeless shelter / shelter / local charities/ support for vulnerable adults

If you want to support but can’t risk having her live with you, would you be in a position to offer to pay for a small storage unit for her belongings? That would be a really kind supportive gesture without opening your home.

If she had attended the court hearings etc they would look at circumstances and probably delay the eviction etc, dont get involved, advise SS as suggested. landlord will have to store items for 90 days and then can legally dispose of it all. its a tough one.

no, I can't possibly afford it, it would be totally beyond my means, and she has a whole house full of furniture, I just can't imagine what will happen to it all

No, she hasn't attended any court hearings, she has ignored them all. She is convinced it is all a trick and they are just pretending.

I don't actually know when the eviction will be, she was on the phone to me earlier, but not answering questions in a straightforward way, just saying things like "I got another of those nasty trick repossession warrants through the post last week, they think they can scare me" - it is that sort of comment

Thank you for everyone's input, you have helped me be very clear I am doing the right thing to make sure she does not come here

Then you’re doing absolutely the right thing to refuse. I know it must be tough but hopefully it’ll get her the help she needs

Glad we've been of some help, canthelp; it's good that you're so resolute, though I still worry for you if she simply turns up

Do you have one of those Ring Doorbells so you can see who's at the door before opening up? They're a pretty good idea for anyone living alone anyway, and I expect one could help you - or failing that even just a spyhole?

I did see that. But I've had similar with a neighbour I was worried about, I contacted some charities on her behalf when I was concerned she couldn't feed herself but as I'm no relation, I wasn't expected to actually care for her. It would've just taken me saying 'no' if asked anyway.