Social housing - mental health

[mumofboysxo]

At the end of October last yeah I was evicted from my private rented accommodation by being handed a section 21. Due to Covid we had 6 months to find alternative accommodation, I didn’t find this a problem as I was currently renting and thought I’ll just find something elsewhere! Boy was I wrong!!! I never managed to find a private rent accommodation through a landlord or estate agents as I’m unemployed!

I have 3 children, 7,4 10 months. I started a homeless request with the council in January and since then my mental health has declined rapidly, I’m not eating, sleeping etc and struggle daily with the stress and no stability. I have told the council this and have been given a therapist and anti depresents by my gp.

I received a call from the council 2 days ago to say I do not have to leave the property on my eviction date. My problem is that the unknown/no stability and stress is causing me massive problems with my mental health. And I struggle in a daily basis and fear that the longer this situation carries on for the harder I’m going to fall.

I’ve never suffered with mental health before so this is all new to me. My housing officers seem to just brush off my mental health and haven’t understood or even tried to understand that the prolonging of this housing is causing me a great deal of stress.

Not to mention I want to be the best mother to my 3 children. We’ve just started a referral for my eldest for autism/adhd as he suffers from ticks and also struggles with change so I need to give him warning of any changes.

I feel the council could rectify this whole situation and I my mental health can start improving once I have stability and all they need to do is remove me from this situation but I’m not getting anywhere and they’ve said could be 6 months could be 2 months they don’t know.

Has anyone else been through anything like this and got somewhere with the council?

I would love to rent privately again but due to being good unemployed and my income they won’t accept me. I am still looking for hope I do come a cross something though.
I hope no one thinks I’m expecting a house handed to me. I’m just expecting help to find a stable home for my family.

@mumofboysxo also please contact local children's centre as they will (or health visitor) be able to help with grants for white goods or carpets etc.

@nevernotstruggling

Yea still around will take all the advice I can get.

I am bidding and am in band A, A+ is the highest at my council.
Bidding I’m still coming 60/70 at least and 200 at highest! But this week I did come 31 on one property!
Yes I’m going to talk to his school this week and ask them to keep an eye on him. When he is stressed he suffers from ticks so I try to shield him as much as I can untill he’s old enough to understand

My local council are shit - but not in the way you think
My sisters neighbour was convicted of 3 very serious crime which come under the anti social behaviour laws - and ASB is one of the few evictions that call still take place during Covid
He is also excluded from the area for 2 years which means he can’t go back to his council house at all for 2 years

He was convicted in April last year and although the council were aware of the pending court case they didn’t follow it up.
So he still had the tenancy and was getting housing benefit paid for a three bedroom house even though he couldn’t live there . No one else was on the tenancy . His plan was to get the rent paid for the two years and then come back as he thought people didn’t know it was a council house .
It wasn’t until my sister rang the council in December and asked them why the fuck was a house empty for 8 months that they took action.
It’s only this week that she’s seen council workers going in the house to clear out the junk
So it’s taken the council 3 months exactly to get possession of the house .

And the tennant - well he’s been given a nice new 1bed HA in the same city
You seriously couldn’t make this up

[quote mumofboysxo]@nevernotstruggling

Yea still around will take all the advice I can get.

I am bidding and am in band A, A+ is the highest at my council.
Bidding I’m still coming 60/70 at least and 200 at highest! But this week I did come 31 on one property!
Yes I’m going to talk to his school this week and ask them to keep an eye on him. When he is stressed he suffers from ticks so I try to shield him as much as I can untill he’s old enough to understand[/quote]
That's something re the banding.
Also there's a form you can fill in about disabilities or mh to try and increase banding but you might be as high up as you can be anyway as top band in my la is literally fire and flood!

@mumofboysxo
Have you spoken to your health visitor? They can do emergency referrals
Give them a call tomorrow
Which area are you in?

Mumofboysxo .Well we are on the South coast (Bournemouth) dont know if that is near to you or not. Also GCHA (Gravesend ) have a similar scheme as well .The Riverside group in Manchester also .HTH .May be worth a quick google in your area for anything similar .BCHA are very good and help many people . I hope something like this is avaliable to you .God bless and I hope you can get some help soon .You sound like an amazing Mum! keep Going youll get there, sending hugs to you xxx

@nevernotstruggling

I have filled the forms as my eldest is also blind in one eye poor thing! But the autism/adhd hasn’t been diagnosed yet as we’re in the stages of it all and no idea how long it’ll take!
People in my council get houses in weeks by saying they’re living on someone’s sofa! The council never chase it up or check its true!

@tiredmum2468
@dottiedodah
I’m mid Sussex council

@dottiedodah thank you so much for your advice I’m going to look into it tomorrow!

www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/find-a-children-and-family-centre/

Have a look at these and contact one of the family centres

@Grinch48 happens a lot here also! The flat opposite me was empty for almost a year before the council decided to clear it out!
I think the system is unfair and doesn’t help people that really need it. Unfortunately a lot of people lie to get a home so means it’s harder for people who actually need them!

@tiredmum2468

Thank you so much

@BrilliantBetty
Have you been through this?

Yes I have OP. And I help vulnerable people (street homeless / disability/ mental health / elderly / non native speakers) with completing housing applications and homeless applications.

So I know it's a long arse waiting game. And very stressful. Also that an awful lot of people are vulnerable when approaching for help with homelessness.

I used to do admin for a local children's centre and they often have housing officers who can help and they can also help with deposits on private rentals and furniture etc to get you started

It may only be temporary but would give you some breathing space.

I know round here some local authorities rent houses from private landlords to house local authority tenants as there is a shortage and so I'd be asking about that aswell.

I wish you all the best and hope you can get something organised

@Babycakes39

I know I will be flamed for this but I can't help but wonder why people have so many children when they have no support/job/home. Ops situation must be awful for her and I do sympathise with it but it does always cross my mind. I know life isn't always black and white and she's a damn good mum for sticking around and doing her best. Xxd

life is often good til you hit a bump in the road....that can happen 3 kids in, what do you suggest? shove one back up?

@tiredmum2468
I really appreciate all your help thank you so much you are a star

Just as another idea, you could phone up social services and refer yourself and your family and ask for a
Social worker to be allocated to help you

This is no reflection to your parenting you sound amazing but they can provide extra support both financial and emotional and link up with housing officers, food banks, health visitors

The more people you can get to fight your corner the better

Sorry to hear you are in this situation.
I would also recommend contacting Shelter. They can challenge the local authority re your banding.
Also in readiness for the move it might be worth exploring a Discretionary Housing Payment which could help with removal costs or deposit. Also your local welfare provision - another grant from the council - may be able to help if you white goods/essential furniture.
HomeStart can provide great practical support with stressful family situations too.
I hope you get into a happy new home soon xxx

The bad news : Waiting lists in my area are currently at nearly 10,000. Unfortunately, there just aren’t that many houses available. I’m supporting families with significant mental health needs- and we’ve been told the letters aren’t doing much to help. Its awful but please don’t feel singled out by this - it’s just a general nightmare at the moment .

The potential good news : some councils do offer deposit grants which may help you secure a private rental. Shelter might be able to help you apply for these. Not all landlords accept them, but it’s a start ...

@Babycakes39

I know I will be flamed for this but I can't help but wonder why people have so many children when they have no support/job/home. Ops situation must be awful for her and I do sympathise with it but it does always cross my mind. I know life isn't always black and white and she's a damn good mum for sticking around and doing her best. Xxd

FFS. I'm a single mother with no support. When I had my children I was in a stable relationship but even if I wasn't it doesn't matter. What I think you meant to say is 'I'll never understand why men have sex and forget that the act can result in a pregnancy and then fuck off and not support the child (ren)' I fixed it for you.

This happened to me 18 years ago , was renting landlord decided to sell and I was pregnant with my ds so entitled to housing and told to stay beyond date , go to court etc which I found quite distressing at 8 months pregnant , luckily about a week after what should if been leave day they found me a temporary place

Babycakes39/As others have said could and frequently does! happen to absolutely anyone.Anyone can be in a RL that they value .Things dont work out and he buggers off! So no one should have children, unless they can see into the future !

@mumofboysxo
Morning op hope you've managed to get some sleep
Today is a new day
Give the children's centre nearest you a call and let them signpost you

Please ignore any negative comments - nobody knows how things will ever pan out in life and what the future holds.

Hopefully you'll get some good advice today and start making steps in the right direction to get a family home sorted out.

Sending positive vibes

@mumofboysxo I’m so sorry to read about your situation! I am currently in a similar position and have to move out of where I’m living by the 12th April! (I’m due to have my first son on the 10th April), I was settled and happy, no one can predict life! It’s not like this was on the plan for either of us. I just want you to know you are not alone and I’m sure you’re as scared as I am if not more as your children are older. I really hope you get something sorted xx

@tiredmum2468

Thank you so much for checking up on me I had a few days to try and push aside my worries and spend sometime with the children without thinking about moving etc and it was lovely I feel reset!

I bidded again last night and I'm at number 5 this time so hopefully I'll start to get somewhere!

I've got a few telephone appointments this week aswell so hopefully things are starting to look up!

Hope you had a lovely weekend