MENTAL HEALTH AND HOUSING, SISTER BEING EVICTED

[Tabasco007]

Hello, just here to see if anyone can offer any advice. My sister was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia back in 1988 and has subsequently not worked, she has been hospitalised over the years but not in the last 20 or so. So in effect, she has managed her illness, but doesn't really leave the house (more so in the last 10 years) and still struggles with paranoid thoughts etc. She was placed in housing private, but under the care in the community, rent was paid via the council and she gets disability allowance etc. The people she rented from own a lot of property and housed people with mental health problems, but they have now retired and sold off their portfolio. The new owners are giving everyone notice, so effectively my sister will be made homeless. they are talking about August/September time. Clearly, she is really worried, as am I - I am also concerned the stress will make her more ill. She has approached the council, but they seem to be suggesting they can't help until she is homeless. I have contacted Mind, but they don't deal with housing. Does anyone out there have any suggestions or where I can turn to for help? Thansk in advance.

She will be expected to find a private rental herself with support of family and friends if required.

Check with housing to see if she might qualify for a Discretionary Housing Payment to help with deposit/first months rent.

There may be services that can help. Here in Leeds we have Engage who support people with vulnerabilities (Serious mental illness, addiction etc) to find Housing however they are so overwhelmed due to housing crisis that the wait to be allocated a support worker is often longer than the time period the person has to find a new home 😐.

Look online for local housing associations or charities that might be able to help.

Are you or other family members not able to help her find a private rental and set up a direct debit to the landlord for rent? Have you applied to housing associations?

The council have duty to help I think if eviction is within 56 days. Talk to Shelter or citizens advice she may be in priority need due to her illness but you might need to fight her corner. A lot will depend on the housing situation locally

Our council will put you in temporary accommodation but only once your actually homeless. Think you have to wait to be actually evicted. Temporary could be a b&b, or even a hostel. Then the council will assess and if they have a home that fits what is needed you can apply but normally they just help with finding private. If they put you in temporary you normally have to put your furniture into storage as its normally just a room.
I would advise looking at another private rent. Your sister won't take priority over anyone else. If dv involved you do get a bit more help. Social housing a big issue round here.

Yes she will be eligible for emergency accommodation via the council once the bailiffs have evicted her from the property however this does not mean she will be placed directly into a flat of her own. Here she would be offered a not very nice B+B that could be in any area of the city so potentially away from any support she might have in place.

If she were then given highest priority (Band A) she would have a wait of between 2 and 5 years for a property of her own.

Obviously it might be different if she lives somewhere that is experiencing less of a housing crisis but in general even those with top priority are experiencing lengthy waits.

She would be 100% better off finding a private let on her own terms.

Just to put your mind at rest, your Sister WON'T have to wait until she is evicted by Bailiff's. If the Council insist on this then they are acting unlawfully. (the law changed in 2017)

The Council will have some duties to assist as soon as she receives a valid notice.

Not clear what her security of tenure is from what you have put here, licensee, assured shorthold tenant etc as this will determine what sort of notice and how much notice, so can't give you much advice on this.

Visit your local council's web page on homelessness which should tell you the process or the Shelter link below.

There are also ways to challenge council's legally if they do not adhere to their duties under homelessness legislation.

https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness

Thanks people, I'm going to contact citizens advice tomorrow and s the what they say.

Look for private rentals and she can find somewhere new to rent.

Has she had an adult social care assessment? She might qualify for semi supported living or accommodation aimed at adults with complex needs. How self sufficient is she? Does her health inject her day to day activity/ability to engage in basic tasks or tenancy sustainment?

TBH, She is fairly self sufficient, in as mush as she orders her food online and doesn't really go out anymore. So she manages, but is often in bed depressed etc, but she manages, cooks for herself etc. it's so sad really as if she had got more help I often feel she would have had a better quality of life, made some friends, but she resists all suggestions so stays the same. Mental health is very hard to deal with, and sometimes it feels harder when it's family.

Supported living mighstill be the way to go each council will have a way of accessing this.