I live in an awful area, there was a shooting today and can't get out!

[NoCoco]

I live in S E London and it really is an awful area. I can't get out and feel trapped.
I'm in a low paid job, single mum. The house I live in is owned by a family member who very kindly let's me live here for free, they are very wealthy and the house was left to them by a family member.
I'm so grateful but I would love to move to a safer area. There was a shooting here at the end of my road today. I'm so worried about my kids and am a nervous wreck. I can't afford to privately rent, no chance of a mortgage and council lists are crazy.
I just feel so trapped. Does anyone else hate where they live?

Why can't you save? You are living there for free so can't you save up what you would be paying in rent?

You live in the same area as me then

This!!

Tbh I don't feel unsafe here though it's the same all over London leave London then it will be cheaper then you can afford it?

Save what you would pay in rent and think about relocating up north, are your kids in school yet? I know that’s a massive upheaval but you can get a better quality of life somewhere cheaper. it doesn’t sound like you can afford a better area where you are.

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Because I don't pay rent I get hardly any benefits which is fine but I'm in a really low paid job without regular hours.
Most people here seem to get their rent paid so I'm not much better off. By the time I pay energy bills, food etc I don't have much left

You're going to get a lot of people suggesting that you save the money you are saving on rent to move elsewhere, but we don't know your specific circumstances so I won't go there.
Sorry you feel unsafe, sounds terrifying.

That's horrible but it can happen anywhere. Once when we moved there was a shooting and a stabbing around the corner the same week. Tbf the are was normally pretty ok, but that week I was wondering what have we done!!

Hang on a minute, you pay ZERO rent?? And you can't afford to save ANYTHING to get out.

The math ain't mathin hun

@SnackFish it's just awful here isn't it?
I've lived here all my life but it's got so bad.
@DanielGault maybe you're right and it's in alot of places. Even if I move it will be to a different poor area so same problems will be there too I suppose.

Normally shootings/crime are by people known to them. Understandably you must be stressed and worried about what you are bringing your child into but try and keep positive that it's very rare for this sort of thing to happen to normal people. I have nothing useful to suggest as I moved away from a rough area to a better one but still in social housing but it's a better area. I moved from SE to NW with the hope of bringing my child up on a better area.

I've suddenly started feeling unsafe in London. Two drive by shootings within minutes of home last month. I was mugged and punched in the face by a teenager last summer, and partner and I were accosted and threatened by a very mentally unwell young man with a knife six weeks ago when leaving the cinema. This is after 12 years of zero issues other than one nicked front bike wheel. What the fuck is happening?

Change jobs?

Ps I know this is austerity, cuts to every possible service etc. Just shocked at how many horrible things are happening close together.

@Evaka sorry that all happened to you.
It's just everyday now. I feel surrounded by druggies, dealer's and generally violent angry people

We were in an area with 'poor' living cheek by jowel with 'rich'. I had lived and worked there for quite a while and felt 💯 safe, but when you hear of these things you feel quite shaken. But really the area was ok. It was just bad timing.

I’m in SE London and there was a shooting today, so I assume the same area!

im so happy I didn’t walk to the local Tesco as planned.

but I understand, I’m hoping to move out before my kids reach secondary school, as I don’t want them caught up in it all

Omg, so sorry to hear that

If I had it my way I would leave SE London but for other reasons I'm also unable to but I don't feel unsafe as it's usually gang related so don't feel like a target myself but I had no idea it had happened till we walked past the police blocking the road earlier which isn't nice and don't really want my kids growing up here but no choice about moving and I think it's an issue all over London though

Benefits aren't there to allow people to save, you know. If your rent is zero then so will your HB be.

@SerendipityJane exactly this. Whether my rent is free or hb is paying I'm no better off financially. If I make myself homeless to move to a different area I'll probably be in a hostel or something as I can't afford private rent

Thank you and likewise, it's awful and so sad to lose your sense of peace. I grew up in a tough city and can handle myself normally. I hate being scared. Hope you find a way out OP. Could you move out to a cheaper town? X

Yeah that’s not acceptable. That’s mad. Do all you can to leave. You only get one life.

I get it, I am afraid. No advice though, sorry.