How good are these Refuse centres and other homeless centres for women with children?

[chinmaya]

Dear All,
I've been living with my husband for the past months only b'se I haven't got anyone else here in the UK.Atleast more than once a week I keep thinking about leaving him and running away.But, I'm a bit cynical about dependeing on Refuse or other shelter organizations with 2 children? Has anybody here has any experience or knowledge about how good are these people. Do I have to pay? Would I be able to afford it with no income of my own? And what happens next? do they help me in finding work, help in the sense care for my children while I'm out looking for work. And how do I sustain with respect to finding an accommodation of my own after that? I'm completely new to these organisations and phenomena. All that I need is want somebody to shelter me and some sort of child care, while I'm looking for work, and I'd like to move out and have my own home, at least rented. And I need support in achieving all these. Any guidance is appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

see here

i went to one for a short time 4 years ago. I also work in housing so know a little.

the one i went to was clean, the girls were ok. there was a support worker there who helped with things like benefits.

there was a support worker who visited who helped with things like filling in applications for housing.

herewomesn aid.

if you tell me how you are currently housed, i could perhaps tell you about your future most likely options.

Refuge rather than Refuse!

You don't say why you're leaving your H - obviously there would need to be some kind of ongoing abuse for this to be an option.

You should be able to get benefits to stay there if you have no income but will have to pay a contribution from your benefits. I had a job while I was staying there so had to pay privately and it was pretty expensive.

IME, they didn't provide childcare or help in getting a job. They may be able to help you in looking for a house though.

First of all, he should be the one to leave not you. As a mother with children, you automatically get the house.

BUT if he's abusive then, contact your local CAB. They'll be able to contact the council for you and hopefully get you high up on the waiting list. There are various Housing Associations you can try too, the CAB will know how to go through all of that.

If you leave him and go into a Refuge, you'll be fast-tracked by the council so you'll get a house even quicker. If they can't find you one, they may pay for you to stay in a B&B for a short while.

Anywhere is better than in an abusive relationship is it not?

There also should be a womens centre near you who will be able to advise you about housing, jobs, childcare etc, here's the one in Brighton, there's one in every major city and town.

Good luck.

shelter not just for homeless people, but for people like you - at risk of becoming homeless. they can give you advice.

you don't automatically get the house ruby - if she is joint owner, she should seek legal advice. but if you are in danger of physical or psycological abuse and need to leave immediatley - then go to your local councils housing or homelessness office, right now

the council have a statuatory duty to house all people presenting with domestic violence.

joint tenant - the council /HA can seek to evict your partner becuase he is the perpatrator of the abuse.

perpetrator*

Refuge centres vary hugely. I hated it, but at least it got me out of an abusive relationship.

If you aren't in an abusive relationship your other option is to go to the council, tell them you have nowhere to live, and they may be able to put you in B&B. That was my other option.

Either way, you claim housing benefit in the normal way. While I was in refuge, I was a sinlge mum, not working, so I didn't have to pay any kind of rent.

Nobody in a refuge would be caring for your children while you look for work. I thinkt hat is something you need to speak to the Jobcenter about. I'm sure they would be able to advise there. When I was jobhunting I paid a cm out of my income support for childcare during interviews, and took them to the jobcenter with me when hunting for work.