Home Home, Law & Money
If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.

Housing, Do I have any options?

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I'm currently staying with a friend and her Family in Bristol on a tempoary basis, I need somewhere more permenant to stay. but Bristol council and hundreds of other places me and my friend have contacted have said "You need local connections" or "You need to be in Bristol for 6 months" I need somewhere more permenant before then...

Helppp

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hostels, foyer type places, until your 6 months is up you've got very few options.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I rang the foyer. well, my friend did...they said no...


    Awhh..poooo
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    No on what grounds?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    No local connections
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Don't you have a job there? I'm surprised that's not enough. I wonder if a letter from your employer saying you're working for them for more than 6 months would help?

    Do you think you would be in a position to afford to rent privately when you start being paid?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't have a job?
    Wish I did though
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I thought you moved to bristol because you got a job. Why else would you have moved from hull to bristol?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Because I was constantly being threatened in Hull, Because every time I went out I saw someone or something that reminded me of my past, Because I wanted a fresh start...I wanted to get away from my brother and my Family. Because staying in hull was making me feel incredibly low.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I don't know how useful it will be or whether you've already contacted them but Shelter have an office in Bristol which offers housing support and advice. Shelter

    If you were, for the sake of argument, to start volunteering in Bristol, would they count that as a local connection?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    My friend contacted shetler who said something like "call us back in a few months"

    I applied for college but I start in september
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Emmalee wrote: »
    My friend contacted shetler who said something like "call us back in a few months"

    I applied for college but I start in september

    It might be worth contacting Shelter again and re-explaining your situation. Bristol City Council and Bristol Youth Links signpost to some services, a local youth centre should also be able to give you support and possibly act as an advocate for you.

    It's great that you've applied for college :) was just thinking that some volunteer work between now and then could bridge some connections and prove you're serious about settling there.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I do voulenteer at mentality

    http://otrbristol.org.uk/campaigns
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey there Emmalee,

    Thanks for your post. Must be a big change moving to Bristol and you're really brave for it. However, it seems like a good move given the issues you were having in Hull.

    Sorry you're having a difficult time sorting out your housing situation.

    You might find it helpful reading this page on the Shelter website which explains local connection in more detail - http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/help_from_the_council_when_homeless/local_connection

    This is of course in relation to making a homeless persons application to the council. Even if you do not have local connection to Bristol, they should still take a homeless persons application and make enquiries into it. You should also explain why you cannot move back to Hull. Was there a risk of violence to you in Hull? If so you must make this clear.
    Bristol council can refer you to another local authority and if this happens then it is important to seek legal advice quickly to see if you can review their decision.

    You may also be entitled to emergency housing as you're just staying with your friend on a temporary basis; arguably you are homeless now.

    Shelter has this 'emergency housing rights checker' which is really handy and you might find useful - http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/emergency_housing_rights_checker

    In summary - the council are wrong to turn you away because you do not have a local connection. They must still take a homeless person's application, make enquiries into it and then make a decision about whether they owe you a housing duty. You should remind them of their duties and insist on making an application. Ensure that you give them all the information about why you cannot go back to Hull and what you are doing in Bristol at the moment and in the future.

    Also, I am not sure how old you are, but if you are 17 or younger, then Social Services may also have a duty to house you
    Hope this helps.

    Hope this helps

    :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Sorry to have taken ages to reply, I'd misunderstood. Nothing to add to what L1ttleOne said, but keep us posted on how it's going.
  • **helen****helen** Deactivated Posts: 9,235 Supreme Poster
    piccolo wrote: »
    Sorry to have taken ages to reply, I'd misunderstood. Nothing to add to what L1ttleOne said, but keep us posted on how it's going.

    Ditto, you might also find some help via the Bristol Night Stop team
    Bristol Nightstop provides free help and advice to young people who are homeless or who are at risk of becoming Homeless, sofa surfing or staying in unsafe places in Bristol.

    Are You

    Aged 16-25?
    Homeless or at risk of becoming homeless?
    If so we may be able to help you.

    Call or Text 07979878814 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday between 10am and 6pm
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    **helen** wrote: »
    Ditto, you might also find some help via the Bristol Night Stop team

    We called them, and they've given us some details of another...person

    Given up on it all though, Gonna go live with the fishies at this rate!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Why couldn't they help you? Did they say? I think you need to go in an see someone at shelter and explain that you had to leave because there was the threat of violence and you need to state that you're a vulnerable adult. You can find somewhere but you need to have someone fighting your corner and stop taking no for an answer. If people can't help you ask them why they can't help you and why the next person will be able to.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I've done that, explained everything...Just a lost cause.

    Someone even turned around and said "we can't help you because your mental health problems aren't severe enough" even though my friend told them I tried to end it a few weeks ago.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey again,
    Sorry to hear you're still not getting anywhere with this.
    Do you think you would find legal advice helpful? It seems like that might be a good option now, considering you've tried several times to get the local authority to listen to you.
    You could try a Citizens Advice Bureau or a local solicitor who specialises in housing law. I know it's not always easy or desired to get lawyers involved but in my experience, if you have a good lawyer who knows what they're doing, you should get somewhere.

    Link for CAB - http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/about_this_site/get_advice.htm
    Link for finding a solicitor - unfortunately the Community Legal Advice finder has been replaced with a telephone advice service called 'Civil Legal Advice' - https://www.gov.uk/legal-aid/how-to-claim
    But I can't find the lawyer finder link...
    You can use the Law Society website instead - http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/find-a-solicitor/

    :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Forgot to update this

    So my friend rung the people helen mentioned who told us about another thing they're doing, they then told us to come in, we went into their building thingy and filled out this never ending form and a few days later give them a letter that had my social services details on and why I was moved into a hostel, now they've put a referral in for somewhere (forgotten the place). to see about talking to the council and saying "Yeah she doesn't have any local connections but such and such has happened now she cannot return back to hull"...

    Hopefully they listen...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    They rung back today, the woman i talked to was such a snob, but basically now i need to ring social services in hull and ask them for a letter to say i cant return to hull, but because I'm 18 now they woman wouldn't listen "we only help children under 18" yes but i just want my fucking notes you twatpoophead. -shakes head-...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Stick it in writing (email is fine), they're required to release info that they hold on you.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    So I move into a youth hostel tomorrow at 10am, and I'm exhausted from packing!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    How did the move go?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Okay I guess. *shrugs* meh.
Sign In or Register to comment.