Council house not suitable for my son

sadia7860

Hi there, 

   I want to discuss sbout my housing situation. I am 19 weeks pregnant and I have two kids . One is 6 years old who diagnosed ASD . And other is nearly 4 years old . I m living in council flat on 2nd floor no lift and 40 stairs . I moved here last year because I gone homeless. My son is gone more worse after moving here . His behaviour gone changed .because he is used to to play in garden. He started crying ,hitting himself, and refusing to go up. It's very hard situation for me . He was excluded from school because of his behaviour. His school was normal . So now we changed his school .this school is special school and now he is settled in school . Because school is very big and go for walk everyday. But when he came back home his mood gone changed and refusing to go up . And said garden  park and no home.  I m pregnant its too much for me . I asked to council before for moving and gave a letter from his old school principal who visited this property but they asked me more supporting letter. How moving property will  help my son . So I gave supporting letter from paediatric letter and his school letter and excluded letter from old school and settled evidence in new school . What you think it's enough proof because I am so much struggling.  Thanks alot

Cher_Alumni

Hello @sadia7860 and congratulations on your pregnancy, I hope it's going as smoothly as possible. 

It sounds like you have a lot to deal with and your current housing is unsuitable for meeting your son's needs, I'm sorry. I can understand how having more space would be helpful and think contacting Shelter would be a useful first step to understanding what evidence you need to gather. While here is another useful webpage to look at 'What is priority need?' that details how to show the council you/your son are vulnerable in your current housing.

I also wanted to point you in the direction of Scope's Navigate service which provides emotional support for parents of disabled children. Some of the things the team can help you with are:

• organising your thoughts and feelings

• practical advice and suggestions

• coping strategies and insights

• taking positive actions and helping you with emotional wellbeing

so please do take a look at that, as your health and wellbeing is important too. 

Please let us know how you get on and we wish you all the very best. 

sadia7860

Hi there , the housing local officer called me on this Wednesday and said I have to send registration form for join housing before this Friday then they give me band 3 and on Tuesday (today) panel will decide my band 2 . I registered straight away and they activated my account straight way and gave me band 3 but today I waited all day but my band was still same so I send msged to local officer he said they sent my case to housing choice allocations and when they made decision they will update me so I m so confused and these things make me worry how much I have to wait for the right band because I m too much struggling with my son and 20 weeks pregnant so it's very hard for me to make myself relex .any advice is good for me thanks in advance 

Alex_Alumni

Hello @sadia7860 thanks for updating us, that's stressful, but it does sound like you're doing everything you need to. Well done for registering straight away, hopefully you will hear more soon. 

Have you managed to take a look at any of the resources @Cher_Scope included above for some support? And how are your son's doing at the moment? 

sadia7860

Hello again, 
I didn't hear anything from council, they didn't make decision yet . I gave all supporting documents 9 months again and still waiting for the decision.  My son is struggling. He is not happy here .he is standing infornt of window all the time  and looked outside .then started crying hitting himself and hitting his sister . I m so worried when baby born how I managed.  And not stairs also . Anybody whats council waiting time to make decision because 9 weeks gone . Thank you

poppy123456

Have you contacted them? If not then you should do that. However, you could be waiting a considerable length of time before you find somewhere suitable. Have you considered looking into an exchange?

sadia7860

I tried to exchange but no one is interested because lots of stairs. I tried to contact my local officer but he didn't reply. I called housing main number two times .they said they will pass my msg a b d housing team will contact me but no one contact me . Sorry 9 weeks gone but they didn't not make decision not 9 months

poppy123456

It's not going to be as easy as just re-housing you. You will be placed into a band, which band you'll be placed into will depend on your circumstances. You will then be able to bid on properties.

You can also refer your son for a needs assessment from your local Authority. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

sadia7860

I am still waiting its a 12 weeks gone and they didn't make decision. And I am struggling every single day I am now 30 weeks pregnant and worried about my newborn. Because my son is hitting himself and his sister when he aggressive and I am worried if he try to hit newborn. What you think how much i have to wait .how much their process time .its normal 12 weeks time. I made call to local housing office. He said he will chase them and he said iam registered with band 3 and not much change after bang get piority band 2 . Thank you

poppy123456

Even with a priority band 2 you could still be waiting a couple of years. You will still be able to bid on properties but it doesn't mean you'll be successful with that bid because there could be others higher on the priority list than you are.

sadia7860

So it's means life will be more hard after baby comes because I cant do work with this situation and I can't efforts private rented house . 

poppy123456

Remember i said "could" be waiting a couple of years, this doesn't mean you will definitely be waiting this long.

sadia7860

Hi there 
They changed my band and gave me priority. I can bid 3 bedroom house a nd 3 bedroom maisonette with Garden .Now ny position number is 20 to 33. Hope it will less with time

Adrian_Scope

Are you happy with that outcome @sadia7860? 

sadia7860

Yes I am happy and hoping it will  work. Because I really  struggling in this property 

L_Volunteer

Glad to hear you are happy. We hope it will work too @sadia7860. Please don't hesitate to let us know how it goes and if there's anything we can support you with 

Kimmy87

sadia7860 said:

Hi there 
They changed my band and gave me priority. I can bid 3 bedroom house a nd 3 bedroom maisonette with Garden .Now ny position number is 20 to 33. Hope it will less with time

So pleased that it has been a positive outcome. It can be easier to cope when you know improvements are on the way. 
Waiting time often counts for such a lot within these systems. When I was successful in my bid it took me by surprise, as the system had placed me at number 4, but the Housing staff had moved me to number 2. Then number 1 dropped out as they found somewhere else. 

Lou67

@sadia7860
Hi I hope things are going ok with you and your pregnancy.
It seems things are more positive with housing, I hope you don’t wait to long, a garden would be amazing for you and your children.

Take care ❤️

sadia7860

Thank you so much for your kind msges. I will let you know anything happen next thanks