We are homeless and my son has a duty to refer. He is under our care and Milton Keynes council have not be helping us. This has increased his mental health conditions
This is so good, thank you. I'm going to try and run through this process with some of the homeless people in my city centre. Instead of just handing out homeless care packages 📦
Cool, just remember, the first time you go up against the council is the hardest one - once you've done it a few times they tend resist less. My advice would be to wait for a clear cut case to really dig your heels in with them. In Bedford once we had a few wins under our belt we could start getting good outcomes for people in the more ambiguous situations.
Advice from my local council: - step 1 - complete a homeless application online - step 2 - triage email sent out asking various questions along with documents such as 3 months bank statements, appropriate medical documents, ID. - step 3 - if homeless people manage to complete the above (many struggle as it's generally encouraged to do online) they are then offered an assessment which is often 2 - 3 weeks later which, after completion, only then, does the council activate the relief duty (if all the conditions are met). Do you think this council are misunderstanding the process or deliberately making it extremely long winded in the hope that applicants will give up and disengage. Uncertain if, the process I mentioned above is actually unlawful!
Sounds like the issue is actually whether there is reason to believe the individual may be in priority need through vulnerability - I've never worked with someone sleeping rough who was not vulnerable. If there is reason to believe they may be vulnerable then the council should provide TA and then seek those documents so any delays in getting the documents doesn't delay the provision of safe temporary accommodation under. s.188. I'd be very surprised if the council doesn't know what the law is and how it should be set up to help people, but equally the guidance they get from DLUHC and Homeless Link will often lead them to breaking the law with the verification process - IMO the whole sector stinks when it comes to responding to rough sleeping. Check out the Ethics of Gatekeeping video on this channel if you'd like to understand council practices better.
Honestly keep up the great work, to take on this body like the council on, we need your help. They've had it their own way for a long time and this government is allowing it. I wish they could be dragged into a storm of media coverage and then heads will roll.
I believe systemic failures in the homelessness sector is one of the issues in the queue to get public exposure, but other things would have to fall into place to get real traction with the public - just think how many things happen that don't really lead to change - Grenfell being one example of many. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call out housing officers' illegal practices in the meantime...
I’m homeless and on universal credit and council not prioritising my application. Please help me as I have no money to pay for solicitors. Who can help me out and where can I go asking for help????
I have been bidding for four years. I sent my eviction notice in and they have known for two months that I had to be out July 24th. They finally gave me a property to look at and it was totally unsuitable. My partner has severe copd and the property was on the second floor! I was told to be careful refusing properties as I could be kicked off the housing list!
I have a full time job, have been homeless since may last year and the council tell me I have to pay £60 a night for a hotel as they can’t house me. I’m in a lot of debt. And can’t afford to rent never mind pay 60 a night for a b and b.
Me too i live in studio flat tight one with kids i sent it email to thel and them answer to wait 10 years for 2 bedroom flat and 5 years for 1 bedroom flat and before open my banding is 5 years
Please can u help my friend help please she’s a single mother and got children please I ask She done all but ignored and put down at suppose to be days is now months Due to a team laying on her Gatekeeper and gaslighting on victim of abuse of power
Wot about doing a council flat swap to another local authority? My brother is a vulnerable adult severe MH and nuisance neighbours impacting him he has recently been admitted for psychiatric treatment.awaiting discharge Any advice?
Lol... You tell them that you're living with domestic abuse - and they send you back. I had to go back because I didn't have the money to get further out of town by myself that night.
This information is so valuable , I wish I had known this before, but I am so much better informed now. Q, When you have a housing duty, what is the reason they choose to put you in private rented accommodation for short term 2yrs example, and is this correct? After 2 years, you will be considered homeless again. Is this normal practice.
This is their game now, they've threatened me and some families with private rent properties now, they don't want to give houses unless you're a good earner and will buy it from them and because they've become a "real estate company" (Birmingham council) thats how they operate now, bunch of corporations really. In the name of council.
Received section 21 from landlord, council told us to fill the form online(done before finding your video). We still need to wait for court and bailiffs letter. Not homeless yet but by august/September will be. Family of 4, 2 kids under 16, one child aged 5 on DLA HRC. Any advice moving forward?
Please answer this on your live chat - a friend moved to a different area for supported accomodation, joined the register and was given only reasonable preference band E due to no local connection. Since being in the YMCA she has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and is in contact with the mental health team for treatment for this. Could she be re assessed by the council as having a priority need and placed in another temporary accomodation due to the severe impact the current accomodation is having on her mental health?
I’m in the process of making a homeless application and have my Homelessness assessment on Friday. Do you know anyone in London, Waltham Forest that can assist and advocate for me? I’m currently working with shelter also.
Can you cover what help is out there for a street homeless person to get off the streets in any area if they are deemed intentionally homeless and or not in priority need please
There is only one option - finding a job and finding private rented accommodation/room to start your new life. Intentional homelessness (no matter how hard it may be) is your choice/your responsibility. But I would look into this deeper - you may be able to challenge this decision.
I’m a 51 year old with chronic mental health issues. I’ve been given notice of foreclosure on my ho,e. I have no hot water. No heating. No cooker. Damp everywhere. My entire fam are in Cardiff. My house is in bridgend but I can’t live alone there anymore. Cardiff CC are refusing to help despite a chain of clear emails to them highlighting my position and condition. It’s exacerbating my illnesses. Should I begin legal proceedings?
Check out the link from the video I just did with Will Flack on Legal Aid - the link takes you to Will's website which has a list of solicitors firms that he thinks are good.
That's not that unusual - properties will be added on to the register at random, so it's possible that at some point a string of houses will come up to bid on, but there's no way to predict it.
My landlord wanting to sell flat Even knows at loss I'm 70 I'll health waiting for 2 more heart scans Its 1st floor flat which stairs don't help Also copd & blackout spells Wud I be entitled to any help
You can trigger a homelessness application if it is likely you will become homeless within 56 days, assuming the eviction notice is valid. The first thing the council will do is check the eviction notice, so it's best to attach a copy to the email.
Hi am homeless hi am living with my son and hi family hi shere abedroom with my 14year old grandson and hii can hardly manage the stares so sometimes I sit down stairs all night hi have osteoarthritis and have trouble walking please how can hi get a soshal housein
Hi Jacqui, unfortunately JustUs only covers Bedford Borough, and the work I do for Homelessness Best Practice is just delivering training and ongoing case management support to organisations so they're equipped to use this information in their day-to-day. You can try Shelter and CAB, but they're a bit hit-and-miss in my experience. What area are you from?
Hello dude this is so hopeful. I am on the coucil list band 3. I have medical health issues. Is there anyone like yourself just us I can go to in Leicester? Who should I concat to help with this please not sure whoo to help?
I work in homelessness. There are a lot of brilliant officers who are doing what they can in an overly complicated system. There are less sympathetic staff but there are so many factors - yes processes do put people off, some officers do put people off etc. However there are plenty of people who are scamming too and resources are scarce so staff have a legal obligation to do their background checks. Lots of councils are going bankrupt unfortunately. Cost of living and high rents are crippling peoples ability to help themselves and it's the same for councils. The aim is of course to respond to everyone or it give as much advice and help as they can. But staffing and turnover seems to be a massive issue - not to mention training
@@alizonrobson1892 Thats not good enough to say 'we have no choice'. You comply with legal requirements - there cannot be any other way for you to act. If there is - your legal duty is to challenge it, report it to your MP, etc
What about if you homeless due to a section 8 because of a job loss during the pandemic the landlord understood and I started paying back as soon as I got a job but the landlord still evicted. I have a severely autistic child already made a homeless application as I have a ccj and it’s difficult to get another place to live. Please how can the council help.
Great video but what to do in the case when council doesn't respond to confirmation of triggering section 184 of the Housing Act 1996 by following your advice? Thank you.
Complain to the CEO of the council and copy in the MP and your ward councillor(s) and councillor who oversees the housing services of the council. Expect to take it through the complaints process - 1st stage complaints are rarely upheld but they might make the council respond.
Criteria from Government If you are single with no fitting Government criteria met they do not give a damn.Move me to Durham bang pass the buck IDGAF COUNCIL
Thank you so much for this info. I submitted an online application. Someone got back to me asking for documents which I sent. She replied after 2 days to let me know that she had assigned my case to a caseworker but it’s two weeks now I haven’t heard from them. Follow up email to the lady who said the caseworker will contact me. My notice ends on thw 31/08/23. Should continue sending emails to that lady or I should wait until the caseworker contacts me? I’m getting depressed over this because it’s a matter of urgency with kids involved some of whom have difficulties.
We are homeless and my son has a duty to refer. He is under our care and Milton Keynes council have not be helping us. This has increased his mental health conditions
This is so good, thank you. I'm going to try and run through this process with some of the homeless people in my city centre. Instead of just handing out homeless care packages 📦
Cool, just remember, the first time you go up against the council is the hardest one - once you've done it a few times they tend resist less. My advice would be to wait for a clear cut case to really dig your heels in with them. In Bedford once we had a few wins under our belt we could start getting good outcomes for people in the more ambiguous situations.
@@homelessnessbestpractice thank you, I will!
Brilliant and informative - this has given me the tools I need to challenge any incompetence from my Housing Inclusion Officer
Advice from my local council:
- step 1 - complete a homeless application online
- step 2 - triage email sent out asking various questions along with documents such as 3 months bank statements, appropriate medical documents, ID.
- step 3 - if homeless people manage to complete the above (many struggle as it's generally encouraged to do online) they are then offered an assessment which is often 2 - 3 weeks later which, after completion, only then, does the council activate the relief duty (if all the conditions are met).
Do you think this council are misunderstanding the process or deliberately making it extremely long winded in the hope that applicants will give up and disengage. Uncertain if, the process I mentioned above is actually unlawful!
Sounds like the issue is actually whether there is reason to believe the individual may be in priority need through vulnerability - I've never worked with someone sleeping rough who was not vulnerable.
If there is reason to believe they may be vulnerable then the council should provide TA and then seek those documents so any delays in getting the documents doesn't delay the provision of safe temporary accommodation under. s.188.
I'd be very surprised if the council doesn't know what the law is and how it should be set up to help people, but equally the guidance they get from DLUHC and Homeless Link will often lead them to breaking the law with the verification process - IMO the whole sector stinks when it comes to responding to rough sleeping.
Check out the Ethics of Gatekeeping video on this channel if you'd like to understand council practices better.
Honestly keep up the great work, to take on this body like the council on, we need your help. They've had it their own way for a long time and this government is allowing it. I wish they could be dragged into a storm of media coverage and then heads will roll.
I believe systemic failures in the homelessness sector is one of the issues in the queue to get public exposure, but other things would have to fall into place to get real traction with the public - just think how many things happen that don't really lead to change - Grenfell being one example of many.
But that doesn't mean we shouldn't call out housing officers' illegal practices in the meantime...
We need this all over the country period. I am in Kent rough sleeping in my car because lack of council
I’m homeless and on universal credit and council not prioritising my application. Please help me as I have no money to pay for solicitors. Who can help me out and where can I go asking for help????
Attended your training introduction to homelessness law. It was excellent and very helpful. Thanks Mike & Shannon
Glad it was useful Nicola, thanks for coming.
How can I attend the training is any address or number please
I have been bidding for four years. I sent my eviction notice in and they have known for two months that I had to be out July 24th. They finally gave me a property to look at and it was totally unsuitable. My partner has severe copd and the property was on the second floor! I was told to be careful refusing properties as I could be kicked off the housing list!
I have a full time job, have been homeless since may last year and the council tell me I have to pay £60 a night for a hotel as they can’t house me. I’m in a lot of debt. And can’t afford to rent never mind pay 60 a night for a b and b.
Hiya, we'll discuss this question in the livestream on the 29th Feb at 7.30pm
Me too i live in studio flat tight one with kids i sent it email to thel and them answer to wait 10 years for 2 bedroom flat and 5 years for 1 bedroom flat and before open my banding is 5 years
Please can u help my friend help please she’s a single mother and got children please I ask
She done all but ignored and put down at suppose to be days is now months
Due to a team laying on her
Gatekeeper and gaslighting on victim of abuse of power
Wot about doing a council flat swap to another local authority? My brother is a vulnerable adult severe MH and nuisance neighbours impacting him he has recently been admitted for psychiatric treatment.awaiting discharge Any advice?
I need help
Lol... You tell them that you're living with domestic abuse - and they send you back. I had to go back because I didn't have the money to get further out of town by myself that night.
How can I get goodLawyer to fight against the housing if any one knows please send me. Thank you
I need help but council just wont help me i dont know where to turn and times running out 😢
This information is so valuable , I wish I had known this before, but I am so much better informed now.
Q, When you have a housing duty, what is the reason they choose to put you in private rented accommodation for short term 2yrs example, and is this correct? After 2 years, you will be considered homeless again. Is this normal practice.
thanks MamandMason, that's a very good question - i'll try to answer it in the coming week
This is their game now, they've threatened me and some families with private rent properties now, they don't want to give houses unless you're a good earner and will buy it from them and because they've become a "real estate company" (Birmingham council) thats how they operate now, bunch of corporations really. In the name of council.
This is the problem those who need the most protection the vulnerable can be manipulated ..
Received section 21 from landlord, council told us to fill the form online(done before finding your video). We still need to wait for court and bailiffs letter.
Not homeless yet but by august/September will be. Family of 4, 2 kids under 16, one child aged 5 on DLA HRC.
Any advice moving forward?
Please answer this on your live chat - a friend moved to a different area for supported accomodation, joined the register and was given only reasonable preference band E due to no local connection. Since being in the YMCA she has been diagnosed with severe PTSD and is in contact with the mental health team for treatment for this. Could she be re assessed by the council as having a priority need and placed in another temporary accomodation due to the severe impact the current accomodation is having on her mental health?
Hiya, I will take this question to the livestream tonight (29th August 2024) to try to answer it there.
I’m in the process of making a homeless application and have my
Homelessness assessment on Friday. Do you know anyone in London, Waltham Forest that can assist and advocate for me? I’m currently working with shelter also.
Can you cover what help is out there for a street homeless person to get off the streets in any area if they are deemed intentionally homeless and or not in priority need please
Hi Marie, good question, I will try to make a video on this in the next week.
.Also for couples and adult families as it's not always single people. That would be very helpful
There is only one option - finding a job and finding private rented accommodation/room to start your new life. Intentional homelessness (no matter how hard it may be) is your choice/your responsibility. But I would look into this deeper - you may be able to challenge this decision.
I’m a 51 year old with chronic mental health issues. I’ve been given notice of foreclosure on my ho,e. I have no hot water. No heating. No cooker. Damp everywhere. My entire fam are in Cardiff. My house is in bridgend but I can’t live alone there anymore. Cardiff CC are refusing to help despite a chain of clear emails to them highlighting my position and condition. It’s exacerbating my illnesses. Should I begin legal proceedings?
Check out the link from the video I just did with Will Flack on Legal Aid - the link takes you to Will's website which has a list of solicitors firms that he thinks are good.
I'm categorised as homeless after receiving the section 21 with 2 kids and a disabled mom, but they are just flats to bid is that normal?
That's not that unusual - properties will be added on to the register at random, so it's possible that at some point a string of houses will come up to bid on, but there's no way to predict it.
My landlord wanting to sell flat Even knows at loss I'm 70 I'll health waiting for 2 more heart scans Its 1st floor flat which stairs don't help Also copd & blackout spells Wud I be entitled to any help
Thanks for the question. We'll try to answer this in the livestream on the 25th January at 7.30pm
Is there a place hi ca go to get help applying for a housing
How to get your help for housing application?
So to send the email you need to be homeless already? What about getting a section 8 notice from landlord that wants to sell his property?
You can trigger a homelessness application if it is likely you will become homeless within 56 days, assuming the eviction notice is valid. The first thing the council will do is check the eviction notice, so it's best to attach a copy to the email.
so just to clarify that - when you are within 56 days of the expiry date of the eviction notice, not when it's first served
Hi am homeless hi am living with my son and hi family hi shere abedroom with my 14year old grandson and hii can hardly manage the stares so sometimes I sit down stairs all night hi have osteoarthritis and have trouble walking please how can hi get a soshal housein
How can I contact you? Is there a number?
Thank you ,very helpful. How can i get you're team to help ?
Hi Jacqui, unfortunately JustUs only covers Bedford Borough, and the work I do for Homelessness Best Practice is just delivering training and ongoing case management support to organisations so they're equipped to use this information in their day-to-day. You can try Shelter and CAB, but they're a bit hit-and-miss in my experience. What area are you from?
Hello dude this is so hopeful. I am on the coucil list band 3. I have medical health issues. Is there anyone like yourself just us I can go to in Leicester? Who should I concat to help with this please not sure whoo to help?
I work for a local authority. All true. Except please be a little gentler on us underlings……we have no choice 😢
I work in homelessness. There are a lot of brilliant officers who are doing what they can in an overly complicated system. There are less sympathetic staff but there are so many factors - yes processes do put people off, some officers do put people off etc. However there are plenty of people who are scamming too and resources are scarce so staff have a legal obligation to do their background checks. Lots of councils are going bankrupt unfortunately. Cost of living and high rents are crippling peoples ability to help themselves and it's the same for councils. The aim is of course to respond to everyone or it give as much advice and help as they can. But staffing and turnover seems to be a massive issue - not to mention training
@@alizonrobson1892 Thats not good enough to say 'we have no choice'. You comply with legal requirements - there cannot be any other way for you to act. If there is - your legal duty is to challenge it, report it to your MP, etc
What about if you homeless due to a section 8 because of a job loss during the pandemic the landlord understood and I started paying back as soon as I got a job but the landlord still evicted. I have a severely autistic child already made a homeless application as I have a ccj and it’s difficult to get another place to live. Please how can the council help.
Section 8 needs abolishing
Landlord breaches the council do not give a damn.Rent arrears ...landlord breaches tenancy and legal documents
We need lawyers who are not for the courts
Come in on a boat. Youll get helped out more sad thing is it true.
Great video but what to do in the case when council doesn't respond to confirmation of triggering section 184 of the Housing Act 1996 by following your advice? Thank you.
Complain to the CEO of the council and copy in the MP and your ward councillor(s) and councillor who oversees the housing services of the council. Expect to take it through the complaints process - 1st stage complaints are rarely upheld but they might make the council respond.
They are not all competent councils or homeless officer
Hii am not good with computer my eyes are not very good
what area do you live in?
@@homelessnessbestpractice hi live in banbury
@@homelessnessbestpractice Oxfordshire
Hi leve in banbury Oxfordshire
Hi am desperate hi need a place to live hi have very bad arthritis and back pain hi can't walk very well
Criteria from Government
If you are single with no fitting Government criteria met they do not give a damn.Move me to Durham bang pass the buck IDGAF COUNCIL
Thank you so much for this info. I submitted an online application. Someone got back to me asking for documents which I sent. She replied after 2 days to let me know that she had assigned my case to a caseworker but it’s two weeks now I haven’t heard from them. Follow up email to the lady who said the caseworker will contact me. My notice ends on thw 31/08/23. Should continue sending emails to that lady or I should wait until the caseworker contacts me? I’m getting depressed over this because it’s a matter of urgency with kids involved some of whom have difficulties.
Hi Lydia, check out the livestream Q&A from the 24th August - we cover this question there.