Pregnant and homeless

[MoonAndMe19]

I have 2 dc and am currently 22 weeks pregnant with dc 3, we are living in a womens refuge as I left my abusive partner a few weeks ago. This was the only safe place for us to come where he wouldn't find us. I haven't reported to the council yet as being homeless, I have an appointment for next week. Has anyone been in a similar situation and knows the process of what happens next? How long it took to get a house, did they take your pregnancy into consideration and give you a house/flat with enough bedrooms for everyone including the baby due, did you get the area you requested? the fear of the unknown is giving me terrible anxiety!

Sorry to hear about your situation, have you spoken to the staff about rehousing.

Sorry to hear of your situation and well done for leaving him!

I have no experience in this area but from what I believe, you will not be allocated a bedroom for your unborn child, they will be expected to share with you for a certain amount of time.

Your other kids may also be expected to share dependent on age and sex. Every council does have its own policies though, hopefully you are not in London!

Hi OP, sorry to hear about your situation but well done for leaving, that must have taken strength and courage.

In my local authority, the pregnancy is recognised from 24 weeks onwards, and at that point the baby will be counted for bedroom allocation, so from 24 weeks you will be entitled to a 3 bedroom property.

As for the waiting times and the choice of available housing, that depends entirely on the local authority and demand v supply issues.

In most cases you will the highest priority due to being homeless and in priority need.

There is lots of helpful info on the Shelter website. They also have web chat and a helpline. I do recommend contacting them if you would like some reassurance.

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/your_situation/domestic_abuse

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/your_situation/homeless_help_your_situation_-_pregnant_women

england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/homelessness/rules/longer_term_housing_when_homeless

I've been here - in my case I was priority but they did not accept me in area, but I managed to get into the neighbouring borough as I was at uni there. You may need to move area (this may suit you anyway but bear in mind that even with DA, dads usually still get contact so bear that in mind when chosing an area). I think new rules are, or should be coming in, where your council does have to support your application if there is DV, I was fobbed off many times in the past when I tried to leave - don't allow them to. Google the guidelines about DA and homelessness, as I said I think they have recently changed.
Once I was actually homeless, I was put in a B & B. This should be for a maximum of 6 weeks , but council get around this by putting you in temporary accomodation afterwards. I was in B & B for around 6w (I knew people there for a year as they had too many children for temp. accommodation and councils cannot put you in permanent then move you again), then I was in temp (a studio flat in a block ear marked for demolition) for 6 months. I did move up the list quicker because my ex found out my address and my next move had to be into permanent accomodation so I think that was decided at a MARAC meeting. The other mums I met had an average wait of about 18m from homelessness to being housed, but this is in a big town. Do not let any social worker tell you you can lose your children due to being homeless, this is untrue. This scared me off leaving in the past . Keep strong, I've been there and got out the other side. PM if you want any more info. Also make sure you take care of yourself, I know everyone says that but it's very important. Once professionals start stepping away it can be soul destroying (police cases being NFAd (no further action)), custody and divorce and remember abuse may even escalate now. Stick with womens aid, keep your support worker - they are invaluable.

Sorry I should say you are not given a room for an unborn child, however I doubt you'll be housed in 18 weeks. You will probably move from refuge to permanent - when I was in a refuge again I knew girls who were there for about 6-12m. I left earlier due to ex making me play a wild goose chase though.

It has been such an upheaval, we are now the other side of the city and it takes over an hour each way to get Dc to school and nursery and collect them again. I am considering moving her school really don't want to do this if I am only entitled to a 2 bedroom because we will need a 3 and will have to move again eventually. I hate the thought of having to moving them time and time again. My worker thinks I will still be here when I have the baby but if I'm offered a 2 bedroom before then I have to take it. I hate how much this is disrupting their lives because they didn't ask for any of this. Hopefully me local authority are like some others and recognise pregnancy from 24. At the moment he doesn't have contact but I suspect we will be going to court to arrange access. The kids love the accommodation we are in at the moment and the workers are lovely.

You can apply as Homeless with any council area within the UK, as you do not require a local connection when domestic abuse is involved and councils cannot refuse to process a Homeless application.
With the new Homeless act, they have 56 days to make a decision on the application, but they should agree a Relief Duty to you as you should be classed as homeless regardless of being in refuge accommodation.
After 56 days, you can ask for temporary accommodation, in the hope of speeding the process up on securing a more perminent home for you and your children.

Shelter provide some great advice regarding Homelessness and Domestic abuse and will support where possible. Some solicitors will also support you to challenge councils decisions if you do not feel they are correct.

Hope you manage to secure your little family somewhere you can start fresh, you deserve it x

I haven't got experience of being in a refuge but I have had to flee from an abusive ex and I can only imagine the extra stress of being pregnant at the same time.
Just wanted to say well done for getting yourself and your children out of that situation, you've been so brave.
I really hope you get settled somewhere sooner rather than later x