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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Help! Vulnerable 18yr old nephew homeless

130 replies

desperateaunty · 28/12/2023 14:43

Not an AIBU but posting for traffic.

Hoping someone may have some advice/help that we have not considered.
I will try to keep this short but of course there is history, this situation hasn't just happened in a vacuum.
18yr old nephew with Asperger's has been a problem for a while, gradually getting worse. School was difficult for him and took along time for diagnosis, school weren't very supportive seemed to just want to get rid of him. DB and SIL tried several alternative provisions, none of which were successful. Since finishing school he hasn't been able to hold down a job, despite help with apprenticeships and college place etc. Last year events escalated, increasing drink and drug use. Arrested last Christmas in a club for drug possession (can't remember details but not charged). Supposed to have been offered support from Youth Offending Team but usual issue of waiting lists, lack of resources etc so never followed up.

Events have escalated again this Christmas. DB and SIL are divorced (several years ago) so nephew lives with her (but DB is local to them so has always been very involved). Part reason for their divorce was their different parenting styles; SIL is a softie, less boundaries, DB is the strict one. DB offered nephew to move in with him after last year's arrest but nephew refused (probably knew he wouldn't be able to get away with things like he can with his mum). SIL has been brilliant at trying to access support for him but nothing seems to come of it or he doesn't follow through. Anyway last week SIL called police on him after he started trashing his room (not the first time this has happened, apparently)- she felt threatened, although he wasn't directly lashing out at her, but understandably she feared for her safety. He was let go with a caution but SIL has refused to let him back home. DB has recently moved in with his partner, having him live with him is not an option. Nephew has been sofa surfing at various friends houses but obviously this is only a temporary solution. DB has been on to SS since Christmas Eve but again, due to Christmas holidays etc it's skeleton staff, no resources, told to wait until next Tuesday - for what, I don't know.

Both I and my parents have offered him a place for the night but he has refused. We all live over an hour away, we're not close (not from lack of trying, very involved grandparents and aunty since he was born but sadly not much of a relationship has ever developed, no understanding as to why, eg no family issues or fallings out). DB is heartbroken trying to work out how to help him but also angry that nephew isn't taking any responsibility for himself and nephew is blaming everyone else for everything. SIL is standing firm and not taking him back for the forseeable. We're all holding out hope for some magical intervention to happen on Tuesday from SS but realistically know that is unlikely. So does anyone know what SS can offer? I've said that nephew should fall into vulnerable adult category due to his Asperger's so would he be more a priority for being housed somewhere? None of us, or anyone we know has ever been in this situation before, we're not familiar with services and don't know what to ask for. Any advice from those in the know or have been through similar??

OP posts:
bellac11 · 28/12/2023 21:20

T1cTacT03 · 28/12/2023 20:39

bellac11

What nonsense. Parents of ASC teens up and down the country live with this kind of thing. Autism can’t be switched on and off once a child turns 18.

Such ignorance on here.

Some parents live with it and some dont

The parents being discussed here dont.

Parents of children who cant be managed at home and are in care dont.

Does he want to live with his father? Does his father have any different parenting to the mother that will make a difference?

Presumably there was a reason he was living with the mother in the first place?

Autism isnt turned on and off, but not all behaviour comes from the same place, a person wanting to behave badly will do so, disorder or no disorder. Sometimes his behaviour may be attributable to his ND, sometimes it might not be.

To consider that everything he does is blanket 'because of his autism' is actually quite damaging to him.

Walkintheforest · 28/12/2023 22:13

Your nephew needs to contact the council's housing team in Wiltshire. He may well be classed as a vulnerable person because of having autism and being only 18.

https://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/housing-housing-solutions-contact-details

Also, have a look at these, they all seem to have supported living flats for homeless young people in different parts of Wiltshire (although there is likely to be a waiting list):

https://homeless.org.uk/homeless-england/service/a2dominion-the-foyer-for-south-wiltshire/

https://alabare.co.uk/what-we-do/young-people/

https://www.stonewater.org/find-a-home/supported-living/young-people/

https://amberweb.org/

T1cTacT03 · 28/12/2023 22:18

bellac11

”To consider that everything he does is blanket 'because of his autism' is actually quite damaging to him.”

How? You’re talking nonsense. Remembering your autism helps you manage meltdowns better.

HamBone · 28/12/2023 22:29

SpringViolet · 28/12/2023 20:35

Where does it say in the OP that this lad is ‘violent’? It says he trashed his bedroom (not unusual with ASD meltdowns), not that he’s ever attacked or threatened anyone. There’s a big bloody difference!

I wonder what triggered it OP? Did SIL say? There will have been a trigger.

The father needs to sort this out and take responsibility for housing and putting support in place for his disabled son. Mum has done enough. He is only 18 and very vulnerable. Still very much a young teenager internally very likely, due to the ASD.

He should be ashamed that his son’s friend’s parents are picking up his responsibility. He must surely know about his son’s diagnosis, have researched it and knew that he will need long term support. Why deliberately put himself into a position where he can wash his hands of him at just 18 without him being set up in a secure situation. Disgusting!

My ASD DS is almost 22. Couldn’t imagine kicking him out into a council hostel, although he’s never trashed his room. Still couldn’t imagine doing so if he did to be quite honest.

How many threads with posters aghast that 18 year olds are kicked out of home and threads saying parents need to contribute to over 18 DCs Uni costs? Nuts responses on here.

@SpringViolet His Mum called the police which does does suggest that she felt threatened by her (presumably larger and taller) son. Why would she have rung the police if he was just trashing his room, that doesn’t warrant police intervention?

I’m not suggesting that it wasn’t an ASD meltdown nor that he doesn’t need parental support, but his behavior is clearly serious.

DriftingDora · 29/12/2023 10:44

JMSA · 28/12/2023 19:56

You'd better believe I would, IF it were actually my own child.
I'd also be questioning what made him so screwed up in the first place.

Yeah, right.

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