Facing homelessness

[WelshJules]

Please could I get some advice on what to do next. Long story but I'll try to cut it short. I am a Mum of 4, 3 of whom live with me and 2 of those are still in school. Their father was a very very violent man, I suffered years of abuse at his hands of every kind, but I thought it was just me. Eventually I plucked up courage to report him and his was thrown out of the house in Cardiff by the police, even though it was in his name. In retaliation he eventually caused the house to be repossessed. As I was then working in Bristol, we made the decision to move there away from him.
We lived there worry free for a couple of months til he tracked us down, eventually it went to court and they agreed he was totally unsafe to be around the children and we got a court order keeping him away from them with no access to them whatsoever.
At the time I had a well paid job so was easily able to pay the rent and bills but the court case had been a long affair and cost me £10000 so I started getting into a bit of debt at that point.
Anyway, my eldest child then moved back to Wales to move with his girlfriend. We all muddled along until last year, when my youngest son aged 14 out of the blue attempted suicide. Thank god it was unsuccessful though he then tried a second time, again thankfully unsuccessful. He has been getting extensive help ever since from CAMHS but as a result of this it came to light that he had suffered some sort of abuse from his father, though he won't say what. It plunged me into a terrible depression, I was so scared to let him out of my sight, I couldn't go to work, I was afraid to get help from my gp as I was scared I would get blamed somehow, I still blame myself for not realising. I managed to keep on top of the rent but all of the other bills piled up.

I managed to get another job, much less pay but it just about covered the rent. In February this year my 23 year old eldest child had a massive stroke out of the blue. It left him with terrible epilepsy and unable to work. I had to take time off work to go back and fore to Wales to help him. Then in October my world came crashing down as he then told us that his father had sexually abused him at the age of 8, and that he had been told that if he ever told anyone he would abuse his little brother too. I just cannot cope with the guilt of not realising what had happened to him all those years ago. He is refusing to go to the police about it and health wise he cannot deal with any stress right now. I would go into work and just break down so they would send me back home. As a result my employer told me I wasn't fit to work there and gave me the option of resigning or they would sack me so I resigned. As a result of this I've had no wages coming in and I now cannot pay my rent of £1000 due on 2nd.

My Mum back in Wales can take the children to stay with her but there won't be room there for me too so I've made the decision to try and get myself into a shelter at night and be with the kids in the day. What do people think my chances of being rehoused are? Im a bad credit risk so I can't get a new landlord to take me on. I have no money for a deposit. I'm very very scared but at least I know my children will be looked after. I currently have debts of around £12000. I just feel absolutely desperate.

[InAPreviousLife]

I'm sorry that your family's lives have been so ruthlessly torn apart because of the actions of one despicable man.

The social housing situation in Cardiff is not great, but they do endeavour to help people. Give the council a ring in the morning and ask them how you get the support you need to be housed local to your family and support network. As you're not currently a resident you'll have to make really clear why you need to be housed locally rather than where you currently live.

Shelter cymru might be able to help too.

Really hope you get something sorted and sorry I can't offer better advice.