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My niece moved out of our area with her partners and 3 year old daughter to find work where his Mum lives. They discovered the Mum was using crack and left. The Council have put them up in a Bed and Breakfast while their homeless application is decided.
Now both her and her partner work 100 hours a week between them. She has just found out she is pregnant. She has severe epilepsy brought on by stress and a high risk of miscarriage and has lost 2 prior to having her daughter. She has now been signed off from work for 4 weeks whilst they try and get a plan together. This means she has no income coming in herself.
The Council have put them in a Bed and Breakfast in the middle of a red light area with two brothels opposite. They have no cooking facilities and so have to go out for tea each night having to come back through this area. The other residents are in various stages of heroin addiction, psychosis and bail. The toilet is never cleaned - great for someone with morning sickness. Their room is damp and they are sleeping on bunk beds. Their daughter has gone back into nappies as she is also in a state of panic. The impact this is having on my nieces health is extreme. She has broken completely over the weekend and come to stay with me for a few days to try and get a plan together.
I tried to talk with the Council today but the staff member isn't in tomorrow. I also spoke to the LGO as to whether they could help.
The Council asked if she had been looking for privately rented accommodation. She has an appalling credit history and no one to act as a guarantor for them. They have no money for a deposit or rent in advance.
They have been in this B N B for 9 weeks. They left to move to the new area as they couldnt afford the rent on their flat but before any court hearings etc.
What can we do? What should we be saying to the Council to move them along? If they are found intentionally homeless does the council still have a duty to house as there are children involved? Also someone I knew persuaded the council to pay 6 months rent up front for her as she was in a similar space and she paid it back from her Housing Benefit? Is this discretionary?
I am so very worried for them and her daughter.
Thanks.
Now both her and her partner work 100 hours a week between them. She has just found out she is pregnant. She has severe epilepsy brought on by stress and a high risk of miscarriage and has lost 2 prior to having her daughter. She has now been signed off from work for 4 weeks whilst they try and get a plan together. This means she has no income coming in herself.
The Council have put them in a Bed and Breakfast in the middle of a red light area with two brothels opposite. They have no cooking facilities and so have to go out for tea each night having to come back through this area. The other residents are in various stages of heroin addiction, psychosis and bail. The toilet is never cleaned - great for someone with morning sickness. Their room is damp and they are sleeping on bunk beds. Their daughter has gone back into nappies as she is also in a state of panic. The impact this is having on my nieces health is extreme. She has broken completely over the weekend and come to stay with me for a few days to try and get a plan together.
I tried to talk with the Council today but the staff member isn't in tomorrow. I also spoke to the LGO as to whether they could help.
The Council asked if she had been looking for privately rented accommodation. She has an appalling credit history and no one to act as a guarantor for them. They have no money for a deposit or rent in advance.
They have been in this B N B for 9 weeks. They left to move to the new area as they couldnt afford the rent on their flat but before any court hearings etc.
What can we do? What should we be saying to the Council to move them along? If they are found intentionally homeless does the council still have a duty to house as there are children involved? Also someone I knew persuaded the council to pay 6 months rent up front for her as she was in a similar space and she paid it back from her Housing Benefit? Is this discretionary?
I am so very worried for them and her daughter.
Thanks.
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