Where do I go from here?

wkd

I need advice about the next steps I need to take. I have tried CAB on the phone but can't get through. I can't get through to Shelter either. I was moved to the flat I am currently in due to a management move after being attacked by a former neighbour who was found guilty recently in court. I have been in the middle of nowhere away from all my family and friends, totally isolated with no car or such.  My MH has spiralled to the point now I can't even leave my flat due to anxiety and PTSD.   I have Complex PTSD also along with depression and numerous physical conditions such as Fibromyalgia, arthritis in my spine and other things.

When I moved here last April I applied to be nearer my family and was put in band C.  Band A is for the homeless, Band B is for people with disabilities and any health detriments being parted from family.

I am stuck in Band C and although psychologists have supported an urgent move and I have asked my MP to intervene they have come back saying it remains the same, this is without them contacting both of my psychologists which they say they have, but as of yesterday, they did not.  

I am barely functioning, both psychologists wanted to get social services in and I advised both that due to anxiety I would prefer not to have contact with social services and would prefer my family, but I feel I will never be near my family as I am not a priority. I am crying writing this. I feel like I banging my head against a brick wall.

Hannah_Alumni

I am so sorry @wkd Firstly, I want to say I am glad they were found guilty, and you got justice there.

I would keep trying with CAB and Shelter and look to reaching out to Crisis too. Does Mental Health not come under disabilities for Band B? Could the psychologist reach out to the MP. I know it's frustrating they have to be the ones to do the work and you have to ask if they can. Can I ask, are your psychologists being supportive whilst you've been feeling so low from this situation? 

The only other option I can think of, is to contact the MPs party to complain that they are not supporting your query.

Agnia

Hi wkd, i would like to write to you that i really truly do understand you that you prefer your family ♥️
kind regards 

Albus_Scope

Hey @wkd, I just wanted to stop in and check to see how you were doing today?  We're all here if you need some support.  

wkd

Albus_Scope said:

Hey @wkd, I just wanted to stop in and check to see how you were doing today?  We're all here if you need some support.  

I am pretty depressed it is a no-win situation, not only have I come across disability discrimination there is also age discrimination.  What I do about it, I am not sure. I made a complaint to the housing about the banding and they said I can't complain about banding, however, CAB say I should make a formal complaint, so I am not sure where to go from here. I wish there was free housing advice other than Shelter who are so busy you can never get advice.

Hannah_Alumni

@wkd If CAB said you can then they may have an advisor to help support with that complaint. I am so sorry you have found it hard to get through to Shelter. Is Crisis in your area? 

WhatThe

Hi wkd, have you tried emailing Shelter to open a case for you? They can arrange to call you back if email is difficult but you'll get an email response and can take it from there.

wkd

WhatThe said:

Hi wkd, have you tried emailing Shelter to open a case for you? They can arrange to call you back if email is difficult but you'll get an email response and can take it from there.

 Thanks for that informaiton, I didn't realise you could email when I looked on their site, all I saw was a phone number or chat. You don't happen to have the email address do you?

poppy123456

wkd said:

WhatThe said:

Hi wkd, have you tried emailing Shelter to open a case for you? They can arrange to call you back if email is difficult but you'll get an email response and can take it from there.

 Thanks for that informaiton, I didn't realise you could email when I looked on their site, all I saw was a phone number or chat. You don't happen to have the email address do you?

There's no option to email them. You can only phone or web chat. https://england.shelter.org.uk/get_help

wkd

Thanks Poppy. I thought so, chat is never open when I try, always so busy.  

WhatThe

wkd, my apologies. Keep trying the phone route. The advice and representation is second to none. 

poppy123456

Your only option here would be to refer yourself for a needs assessment from your local Authority. They are not there to judge you but to help you. If they determine that your current home is not suitable for your health conditions then this could help you be moved up a band. 

I moved from band D to urgent medical priority last August and was offered a bed house in December. I moved in, in middle of Jan. It was thanks to my Occupational Therapist after a needs assessment that got me moved up in the list. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

wkd

poppy123456 said:

Your only option here would be to refer yourself for a needs assessment from your local Authority. They are not there to judge you but to help you. If they determine that your current home is not suitable for your health conditions then this could help you be moved up a band. 

I moved from band D to urgent medical priority last August and was offered a bed house in December. I moved in, in middle of Jan. It was thanks to my Occupational Therapist after a needs assessment that got me moved up in the list. 

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/help-from-social-services-and-charities/getting-a-needs-assessment/

Thanks Poppy. I will be honest with you, I don't understand it all. I have had two psychologists that have sent letters to say that the move should be urgent. Both psychologists have wanted to get Social Services involved and I have turned this down. The local authority that I have applied for is different to the one I am currently under.

I have contacted my MP when they failed to move me up a bracket with all the medical evidence they have and they still said no.  Their brackets are A B C, A is for homeless and disability that has a profound effect, which it has on me now, I can't even go out to take my bin out. The last time I took it out I stayed up all night until 7am so I could take it out without bumping into any neighbours and then it took a whole week to bring it back in due to anxiety.

I put in a complaint as advised by CAB as there are stages to go through and someone rang me and I couldn't believe what they were saying, they mentioned sheltered accommodation, I said I didn't want that, I am older but really don't want managers and people around me. I suffer severe anxiety so don't like to mix with people, just want my privacy. They went on to say if you don't bid for that you will be waiting a very long time. I found this to be very discriminatory. They said they would get someone to look into my case again and nothing since then, no occupational assessment or anything. They told me also I wasn't allowed to complain about the banding, that I should withdraw what CAB advised me and put it as feedback. It hasn't sat well with me as I have looked online at the Social Ombudsman cases and there is a complaint about banding.  I don't know what to think or do now, what I do know is my physical and mental health is just deteriorating daily without the support of my family.

wkd

I have now emailed the EASS because, since the phone call last week, I have felt uneasy. I should have the right to a family life too.  I realise that there is a housing shortage but being told I have to have sheltered accommodation when I don't want it and not being allowed a spare room for a carer is in itself discriminatory.  I will let you know whether they agree or not.  

The place I am living right now through a management move is terrible. They told me I would only get one offer after their tenant attacked me, he did it to his previous neighbour. However, I have gone from the frying pan into the fryer, upstairs parties until 4am, she has had a letter about it after I had to complain to the Environmental Health, next door throws litter into my garden, and even found a slipper. I no longer go out due to PTSD from everything. When I asked the HA for their disability policy they told me it was none of my business and they could get away with it. 

I asked for a light switch last May and have a couple of times since there is no light switch for the hallway and with my bad eyesight and my disability where I lose my balance I need to be able to see in the dark.  No one has assessed me, when I complain about noise and my health deteriorating they ignore me and dismiss my concerns as if I am neurotic. I suffer from depression and anxiety but I am certainly not neurotic.  I guess I have no rights and if I do, I have no idea how to defend them.

wkd

WhatThe said:

wkd, my apologies. Keep trying the phone route. The advice and representation is second to none. 

No worries. I will probably try to stay up all night and phone them first thing. However, when I look on their site it says to phone them if you are homeless. I am not homeless, so I haven't bothered phoning them as I feel homeless people take priority. I sometimes wish I was homeless so I could escape this madness. Next door was shouting and screaming a minute ago. I don't know if it was directed at me, but I don't feel safe and I am very isolated now that I never venture out my front door due to the aggressive behaviour. I don't know how much longer I can cope with it all, it is just too much, especially when this behaviour is a daily occurrence.