Advice about temporary accomodation whilst pregnant - not homeless

[LookAtMeImJennyDee]

Hi all -

This is just a general post to see if there is anything I can do to help myself. Am coming up to 24 weeks pregnant with my first child and will be entering the world of motherhood as a single parent. I was self employed but due to the nature of my work have not been able to work since about mid June. Have been and will be living off very limited savings - literally just a few hunderd pounds - until end of August when my self employed maternity pay comes into play at 29 weeks, so I have no assets and am not claiming any benefits.

I have had to move back home with my parents but we are currently a very full house with 2 parents, myself, a teenage brother and my student sister plus a dog all in a three bedroom house. It is a tight squeeze and I am having to share not only a room but a bed with my sister. To top it off our room is an attic bedroom which means that even with both windows open all day the heat just will not disperse and it is like a greenhouse up here. I was waking up gasping for breath my mouth was so dry and its so horribly uncomfortable being in the sticky heat with a growing belly. A fan is no good as its too loud so keeps everyone awake and also the electricity bill is already under such strain with so many of us that I can't add to it further. Due to the recent heat have had to start sleeping in my brother's room as it is cooler whilst he sleeps on the floor. This is far from ideal for either of us and frankly I feel really bad as he's a teenage boy and needs his space.

My situation is a little unusual as I really only need somewhere to stay for about 3 months, I want to be back at the family home once I've had my baby girl because my sister is due to move out by October so will have our own room. Its just for now I'm really, really stuck.

Have no other friends or family who can take me in and would hate to be a burden on anyone else. Have tried temporary lets and have even started booking random cheap hotels to stay in simply to have some space but its becoming pricey. I really just don't know what to do or where to turn for advice. Am only in need of a temporary place to stay , all the added stress of a house full of people and not having my own bed is starting to make me feel glum. I suffer from severe anxiety and am seeing both a counsellor and the perinatal mental health team about this but really just want to stay away from any extra stress if I can.

Sorry for the essay (!) but just wanted to make my whole situation straight as am not homeless but am really stuck. Is there anyone I can go to for advice? Perhaps some cheap temporary hostel? I tried a Google search but anything that came up was saying I'd have to be homeless in order to qualify for help. Or do I just suck it up and share a bed for the next 10 weeks? Even writing that makes me feel low!

Am Cardiff based if that helps at all and apologies if I sound like a Moaning Myrtle just really curious if there is anything I can do to help myself and current situation.

Thanks in advance.

Make a homeless application.

I don't know the law in Wales but here in Scotland you would have the right to temporary accommodation.

thank you - it probably will be my only option, I just don't know who I contact about making an application

So the universities have empty lodgings before the students return ?

if you contact the local authority they will tell you how to present as homeless. if it is the same as Scotland your parents would need to state they are not willing to have you there anymore due to overcrowding. however, I only know the ins and outs of the homelessness Scotland Act (I work alongside our homeless team) so may be slightly different elsewhere x

if you contact the local authority they will tell you how to present as homeless. if it is the same as Scotland your parents would need to state they are not willing to have you there anymore due to overcrowding. however, I only know the ins and outs of the homelessness Scotland Act (I work alongside our homeless team) so may be slightly different elsewhere x

Thanks all - have considered student accom before the students come back, will keep looking!

Your local council will have a homelessness phone number. Call that.

Hi OP, can you ask Shelter Cymru for some help and advice? Also llamau may be able to help. I would look into Cardiff Council advice services to. This is something that these organisations can help you with. Good luck

Could you check on some rent a room sites?

You might find a short term let there?

Or could you advertise as a house sitter maybe?

It's worth putting up an advert on gumtree or similar.

Where I am we have a local single parent group that have a facebook page. Someone asked for a spare room for 3 months and she got a couple of offers and that was including a child. Worth a try maybe?

Plenty of people may have a spare room they don't want to give up full time but the money would be handy for a short term thing. I'd do it if I was local or had a spare room :)

Good luck!