Go away till you run out of Sofas!

Is a sofa a home?  You wouldn’t think so would you…

You may remember back in January the Tweet from Greg that caused so many comments.  It said

Homeless

Went to the council about housing  

I said I’m sofa surfing and running out of sofas

Reply

“Come back when you do – Next”

Which incensed our friend in Wales, Frances Beecher.  Who told Greg to try again with his advisor, as a sofa certainly wasn’t a home!

We asked Greg what happened.  He approached his advisor, and said he was indeed homeless in his understanding, as there was nothing permanent about the sofa arrangement, and he was constantly having to move on as he outstayed his welcome and strained his friendships.  His advisor agreed.  Yes, Greg was indeed homeless.  But he wasn’t “Priority Need”.  No priority need case, no duty to provide accommodation.  Advice now, oh yes, advice was there… “Come back when you run out of sofas.  And here’s a list of local charities who may be able to help.”

So today at Beanie Cellars Sue, Greg and Frances are sharing coffee and cookies - and information!

Greg: Well if the law says I'm homeless Frances, why am I still turned away?

Frances: “There is LAW, and there is local interpretation of Law.”  

True.  And as Councils run out of money, funding and places, and the number in need of help continues to rise, that interpretation is getting more difficult every week.

So lets drill down into this a bit further… We ask Frances to explain

Greg: On the street and sleeping rough, that means "Homeless" to most people I guess.  But Councils seem to have a different idea! Who IS considered Homeless?

Frances: Anyone who has no home in the UK or anywhere else in the world available for them to occupy is ‘Homeless’.  

You may have been evicted, like Greg.  Your mortgage lender may have repossessed your home.  Or you might be at risk of abuse or violence if you return to the place you normally live.  Clear so far? 

BUT - and there is always a BUT – The council may decide you DO have a home if:

•     You are living with friends or family who consent to you staying and haven’t asked you to leave – (Is that you Greg?)
•     You have the right to stay in the home because of marriage to or civil partnership with the tenant or home owner.

Greg:  But what happens if you have a ‘home’?  You have a right to live there, and nobody is trying to get you out?  If, for example you are experiencing violence, abuse or harassment, or if your health is threatened by conditions there?

Frances: You will probably need to prove it. Do you have a witness?  Will your GP confirm it?  If it was violence were the Police involved? No? Then you may be told to go "Home".

You are also homeless if you only have temporary accommodation, such as a hostel, or you are staying with friends or family who can only put you up for a very short time.  
You are also considered  homeless in most cases if you are staying in a women’s refuge.

Greg: What happens if the Council decide I'm NOT "Homeless"?

Frances: The Council may well decide you are not homeless and they have to put that in writing, with reasons, which gives you 21 days to request a review.

Greg: My Advisor told me that although I probably could be classed as Homeless, I am not "Priority need".  What's that all about?

Frances: Priority need?

The Council does not have to offer you a home or a shelter if it decides you are NOT in priority need – and usually will not.  All they need to do is give you advice, or help you find somewhere to live.  

Greg:  In my case a few encouraging words and an out of date list of charities. Very helpful!

What is Priority Need?

Frances:  Usually you are considered priority need if:

·       You have dependent children living with you (with various qualifying conditions).

·       You are pregnant.

·       You are 16 or 17, but usually Social Services will step in. If they won't then its the homeless route for you.

·       You are 18-21 and a care leaver.  

·       You have been made homeless by a disaster such as fire or flood.
        You have left prison or the armed forces.

·           You are vulnerable because of old age, mental illness, handicap or physical disability or perhaps for another special reason.

BUT

There is no requirement to help if you are “intentionally homeless”.  This particularly affects young people who run away, or are thrown out of their homes.  Maybe a family row, admitting they are gay, or perhaps falling out with a Parent's new Partner, or suffering violence or abuse.  45% of young people who approach local Councils are sent away without help, often told to return to the homes that they are fleeing, as their “behaviour made them homeless” – Intentional… Well, what do you think?

And sometimes help will not be forthcoming if you do not have a local connection.

Greg: For me? I find it difficult to challenge any of the things I'm told by my Advisor, as I don't know where I stand legally.  You used to be able to get legal aid and a bit of help there, but that's not available to me now... Although it may be available to some.

Thank you Frances.  Greg is looking glum!

We hope that has made some of the convolutions of homelessness a bit clearer.  

But, as Frances said

"There is LAW, and there is interpretation of Law"

Some Councils, such as Sevenoaks, have a really proactive approach to the homeless situation.  Sevenoaks have a scheme called HERO - Housing and Energy Retraining Options, that seeks to help in as many cases as they can, as early as they can.  Councillor Michelle Lowe believes that this is a positive first step.  It is a scheme we post links to on a regular basis.

You can find Frances, who is CEO of Llamau who are Wales' leading homeless charity for young people and vulnerable women, on Twitter as @fjbeecher

Find Llamau on Twitter as @llamauUK and they are one of our Partners for 2017.

Details of Llamau at

http://www.llamau.org.uk

Sevenoaks Councillor Michelle Lowe is also on Twitter as @MichelleLowe14 

Details of the HERO project we mentioned at

http://www.sevenoaks.gov.uk/services/housing/housing-advice/hero

we are also indebted to Shelter for background information.

And us? We are TeamBeanie.  We raise homeless issues, dispelling myths, and sell stuff to raise funds for the homeless. Find us on Twitter as @beanies_masato and our goodies on this link

http://www.masato.co.uk/collections/masato-homeless-support

We are grateful to L. Buckley-Thomson Tweeting as @Mrs_BT for an update to the information supplied.

Blog written by Sue