Housing problems again? so low

[Tiredmummyneedswineandsleep]

We have to leave our 3 rd private rent again as the landlord is selling. My son is four and has Autism. I'm on my own with him.

The council still have us in the lowest of four bands (bronze) and are refusing to give us any medical points. I have complained and it's going to an independent panel on 13th August. His consultant has written and even rang them yesterday and they still wont budge. His special needs school, GP, Special needs centre have also all written to them but they take no notice and say lots of people have problems etc... we can't give you any priority over any other family etc.. All the professionals have told them DS needs a stable, permanent home.
DS has had a full statement since 3 and goes to a special school yet the council say this gives no priority. He also gets high rate care DLA.
My GP also wrote to them telling them of my depression and how this is making it worse. I've been upped to 40mg Citalopram and sleeping tablets but i'm falling apart and can't sleep, feel constantly ill and want to die.
We are going to be stuck in private rent forever,nobody ever gets a 2bed on bronze banding i can't afford to buy. I feel I'm failing DS as I can't even provide him with a stable home. We are just going to have a lifetime of house moves. I can't afford the moving costs, deposit etc.. we're not going to get deposit back DS has wrecked cream carpets etc...
I've been to the MP,Councilors Shelter, NAS etc.. and no-one can help he council change their mind.
Has anyone go any suggestions please I'm desperate.
I stupidly rang the papers today and they want to publish our story Tuesday, now I'm scared and said i don't know if I want to do so. They said they'd send a photographer around Sunday incase I change mind so they have it on file.

Feel so scared and alone and don't know which way to turn :(

tiredmummy so sorry you're having to deal with this, along with everything else right now. Hopefully the independent panel will be able to make them move you up to the priority banding.

I hope so but I'm not holding out a lot of hope. The fact that DS attends a special school, sleeps poorly and my poor mental health apparently counts for nothing. I had a row with a heartless cow from the council yesterday over it. She had me in floods of tears.

Didn't want to read and run!

Sorry I can't help with advice about housing but regarding the paper - if you're not 100% happy don't have anything to do with the photographer. Certainly don't let them take pictures of you and DS or the house. Send an email saying you don't want them to visit so you have proof of what you've said.

If possible go out for the day on Sunday or at least have another person there to back you up.

Hope you can sort something out, and ask the next landlord for something more practical than cream carpets!

Thanks, yeah I'll def email them so have a copy. It worried me when they started asking me if I get benefits for DS being disabled etc.. The public will just see me as a 'scrounging single mum' I do work but only part time in a school as on my own with DS and can't get childcare
Lol yes laminate would be best!!hes a muck magnet with sensory issues go likes to smear anything and everything on walls and carpets.

I am sorry you are having difficulties with housing. Having a son with autism is difficult enough in itself (My DS aged 6 has ASD and would find it very difficult to cope with house moves.) I work in local government and know some councils are easier to deal with than others. Which council are you trying to deal with? You might want to PM me.

Hi Jackny it's Gloucester

Thanks for understanding.nthats what the professionals are trying to tell our council but thy say it makes no difference

Just wanted to say you have my sympathy I have a son with autism and we spent time in a homeless hostel which was hideous I just feel your council are being truly evil

Around here (not Gloucester though) the only professionals that the council are influenced by are Children's Services. Do you have a disability SW? Perhaps you could ask them for help.

Agree with TirednessKills above, you should focus on the homelessness route as the housing register is unlikely to give you enough points. You need to stay in your current accommodation though until you are served with a notice of eviction, don't leave before then otherwise they will say you left voluntarily.

This strategy was effective for me (in a London borough, so housing criteria is very tight) and we were lucky enough to get allocated a 2 bed flat without having to go into emergency housing.

Seek advice from all the legal sources you can. It's a shame that Shelter could not help, as they were helpful for me. Don't underplay your MH issues or your DS's issues. If there is challenging behaviour or if you have thoughts of suicide or self harm that can trigger intervention and make the authorities pay attention to your case.

I am not sure what to think of the media route - I have seen similar stories covered in the local papers but I'm not sure what the outcome was. And there is enough disability-bashing in the media these days to be a bit suspicious of journalists.

I wouldn't do the newspaper article. Like you I would be wary of how I was to be portrayed (i too am a single parent, with a child on the autistic spectrum who gets high rate DLA).

I agree you will need to follow the homelessness process. I know of a family who lost their rented house (mum had a health crisis and dad had to quit work to care for the mum and child who had special needs), they were housed with the council without having to go into temporary housing. It must have been enormously stressful for them but they got it all sorted in the end and obviously now have a permanent long term home.

If you are not already assigned a social worker from the disabled children and families team then call up and ask them for an assessment for your son, and a carer's assessment for yourself. Explain on the phone about your looming house move with no where to go so they know you urgently need help.

Also, it may not be an option in your area, but as a private renting tenant, I called round local letting agents and looked for ones who wanted long term tenants. Some landlords simply want a long term income, mine does! He's not renting the house until he decides whether to sell it or not, he buys houses with the sole intention of letting them out long term to tenants. My estate agents also did not want a deposit/bond like a lot of others do, they had a small admin fee and a month's rent and that was it. Maybe you could find something similar in your area?

Sorry, I am not in the Gloucester area. You have received some sound advice on this site. The only other suggestion I have is that you could contact the lead Councillor for Housing on Gloucester City Council as they would have greater clout than your local ward Councillor. Having looked at their website, the lead member is Cllr. Colin Organ - [email protected], 07767 350003.