I can't find a solution

[Cluckadoodledoo75]

Long time lurker who has used this for support via reading for years
I have reached the point in my life this week where I can no longer see a way forward whichever way I have tried to find a solution to the black hole I'm in.
Over the last 6 years I have suffered loss after loss and I now am going to lose my home due to financial problems there is no way out of as 2 of my children have moved out for Uni/college and I am £800 a month worse off and can't afford my rent and bills on my wages even with housing benefit/tax credits.
I know I have depression and anxiety but no amount of medication or counselling puts money in the bank.
Upping my hours achieves nothing as help towards my rent and working tax then reduces to the point I am no better off and I can't rent anywhere else (I have been trying) despite having a guarantor as downsizing isn't any cheaper in the current market and lone parents are treated like leper's by landlords.
I reached desperation last week and rung the Samaritans as I was at the point of doing something silly and it didn't help, it actually made me feel worse as I can't believe this is my life now.
I can't afford to buy food, I can't move and I can't earn enough money to make a difference.
If I go down the homeless route I will lose my youngest son as he won't want to leave his school/travel to school as his dad lives right by his current school. The thought of not having him with me makes me want to just give up.
I can't eat, can't sleep and can't concentrate at work, I am the lowest I've ever been and frightened at the thoughts in my head of how my kids would be better off of if I just gave up and erased myself from their life so they were with their dad which is what he wants anyway, he's absolutely loaded and contributes £25 a week for his youngest and thinks the solution is for him to live with him.
I am out of answers and have exhausted every Avenue I've tried to make things work for me.

I understand Cluckadoodledoo75.

I'm going to be in a very similar situation myself possibly next year, maybe later than that, but it's coming. It keeps me up at night worrying. My DD will be going to Uni and my DS's father has an alcohol problem and lives with his mother who pays all their bills and enables him. She is ill and when she goes, he will no doubt try to get DS to live with him because he'll want the child credits as his money won't pay his bills and his drink. He's really controlling and phones multiple times a day to 'make sure' I've got him to school, he's done homework, he's not allowed a phone etc.

People suggest food banks selling on ebay etc, and whilst they mean well, those are short term not a solution.

I know what you mean about landlords. Mine sold up and despite trying so many places and a guarantor, no one would rent to me. Someone else ended up buying it with us in situ but it was awful.

I also have severe anxiety caused by PTSD and it is so hard.

I'm so sorry you are in this situation. The only things I can think of that may help is applying for social housing, and also maybe doing some cash in hand work.

I applied for social housing thinking I'd wait years, but I got somewhere within weeks. It is an older property and at first the area worried me, but it's been absolutely fine and I love it. My rent has halved and it's now manageable on my wage (30 hours at minimum wage). I'll still have big issues when the DC come off my claim, but at least now I can hopefully cover it by taking on more hours. Is that something you could look into?

Also Open University has online degree courses you can do. I think they are free if you are on a low income and don't already have a degree.

I think the solution for you are long term. I know it's difficult to see the wood for the trees when you are so stressed in the present (been there, still very much there), but try to take steps.

Please don't harm yourself. It's your situation, not you. You have worth. I bet you are a great mum too to raise DC who are going to college and uni.

Can I apply for social housing even though I have somewhere to live currently? The local authority's view is that I can live on £18 a week for food as long as I have a roof over my head and that unless I'm on the doorstep with a carrier bag having been evicted I don't need any help?

Yeah you can definitely still apply. I applied when I was housed and not at any risk of homelessness.

I think you mean the Local Authority homelessness service or whatever they are called are saying that?? They won't help you unless you are literally on the street yes, and even then they will try to discharge their duty.

You can just apply to the Housing Associations directly. You complete an application and get awarded 'points' based on your circumstances. Being at risk of homelessness gets you maximum points obviously, but other things such as do you have any damp in your current home? Also you sound like you have depression and anxiety, do you have a diagnosis of that from your GP or take medication or get counselling? I got points because I asked my GP to write a letter confirming that my mental health issues were worsened by the instability of renting from private landlord who may sell at any time, that it was affecting my mental health problems (it was a big factor, yes).

I think it depends on where you live. Places like Central London and some rural places have big waiting times. I'm in a big city though and got somewhere really fast. You have to be prepared to accept the older properties and 'less desirable' areas I think. I decided it's so so worth it for the peace of mind, security, and most of all, affordable rent.

How old is your DS?

Can you earn more money? Are any of these ideas any good?

debtfreefamily.co.uk/how-to-make-100-a-day/

Also, talk to your GP about your mental health, they may be able to help. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time.

My son is 15, almost 16. I have been enquiring about 1 bedroom places to rent out of desperation also but it's very much frowned upon and not readily accepted for 2 people to share a 1 bedroomed space if not a couple. My home now is in a good state of repair, no issues, it's simply not affordable for me now my income has decreased so rapidly so I can't use that as a swayer unfortunately.
I have been to and fro the doctors for years with anxiety/ depression etc but not to any great effect as I have always been someone who struggles alone out of fear of becoming reliant on medication. I think I suffer more with anxiety than depression. It's always situational rather than an ongoing black cloud.
I know there aren't any answers, I feel I will end up having to be evicted via bailiffs to access the housing system and I will lose my son, the situation is helpless.
At the moment my brother is buying me food so I can pay my rent but that can't go on indefinitely, as has been mentioned it's a long term solution I need and I can't see one ☹️

I'm so sorry you are in this situation.

If you rent a 1 bedroomed property, can you tell the landlord you are single with no DC??

Please do go to the GP and explain your situation re housing, they can write you a letter stating your housing situation is affecting your mental health conditions (it has to state that your insecure housing is worsening your mh, not just that you have the mh condition - I was told that). Then you can apply directly to Housing Associations and have some points.

Can you move to a cheaper part of the country? I don't know which part of the country you are in now but if London, there are far cheaper places to live.
Can you rent a 1 bedroom unfurnished flat and put bunk beds in?