Social housing & LGO

apples
apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
edited October 2022 in Housing and independent living
I’ve been trying to apply for social housing but on every occasion I’ve been refused as I’m single and not homeless

im currently in private rented studio flat which only had a 6 month tenancy which expired in May so I’m now on a rolling contract

due to my anxiety and ptsd I have no stability which makes me worry everyday as I’ve moved 4 times since August last year

I’ve included a medical assessment that I sent to the council but has been ignored

ive involved the LGO but after having a phone call from them recently I’m not holding out much hope of them getting me on the register

i Know the waiting list would be years but at least I would have the opportunity to bid on social housing

so my question is after the LGO is there any route I can go

Comments

  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    Afternoon @apples

    Thank you for making this post and telling us about your situation, sorry to hear that this is an ongoing issue and concern for you at the moment.

    Have you considered whether you would ever benefit from having a needs assessment through your local authority's social care team? An outcome of those can be that you are given a higher priority in terms of accessing housing. You can read more about needs assessments here.

    In terms of your PTSD and anxiety, do you have any techniques that you can use to help you to cope in the moments where you feel as though you are struggling?
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    Thank you @Ross_Scope I’ll have a look at the link you provided

    as for coping techniques I don’t have any I used to be able to put my headphones on listen to music and do a colouring book, but now I can’t concentrate 
  • Ross_Alumni
    Ross_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,611 Championing
    apples said:
    Thank you @Ross_Scope I’ll have a look at the link you provided

    as for coping techniques I don’t have any I used to be able to put my headphones on listen to music and do a colouring book, but now I can’t concentrate 
    Thanks for your reply, I'm sorry to hear that those things no longer work well for you as coping techniques. Is there anything else you enjoy doing that would help to relax or distract you for a bit? For example, watching a film or TV show? 

    When you did used to find music helpful, what sort of music would you listen to? I'm a big music fan myself so I'm curious :) 
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    @Ross_Scope my music varies from drum and bass to human league my fave is early house and jungle
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    Sorry @Ross_Scope I forgot to ask your music taste
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    I always find describing your musical taste is very tricky, because it can be so wide ranging as you say @apples! I'm not sure if I've heard of Jungle, what's it like?
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    @Alex_Scope Jungle is Drum and Bass from the mid 90’s
  • Alex_Alumni
    Alex_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 7,538 Championing
    Ahh okay, I'll have to give it a listen @apples, thanks! :)
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    Hi

    I am after some advice please if anyone can help

    i received an update from the lgsco and they found fault with how the council dealt with my homeless application and have told the council to apologise and pay me £100 compensation for the uncertainty it caused me (due to my mental health) the lgsco has closed the case

    however I am still not able to register for social housing and the council told the lgsco first off that I signed a declaration saying if I find private Accommodation they will no longer help with social housing, when I asked the lgsco to see a copy as I would never sign such a form I was ignored, then in the next report from the lgsco they said the council wrote to me and said now I have private Accommodation they are not helping and I have 21 days to appeal

    i never received such a letter and when I asked the lgsco for a review regarding this they have closed the case as they are happy the council are going to apologise and pay me the £100

    this imo is not good enough as my main concern is registering for social housing, I’m waiting for an asd check so unsure if it’s part of my asd or just me being weird but I can’t settle in private Accommodation and up until last year when I was forced into this property I have never rented privately

    my question is how and can I take the council to court for refusing to allow me to register for social housing ? 

    I’m not asking to be priority just the opportunity to bid on social housing

    thanks 
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering

    I posted this but it disappeared so it may be a duplicate post

    hi

    i am after some advice please 

    I have received the final decision from the lgsco and they found fault with how the council dealt with my homeless application (due to my mental health) and have told the council to apologise to me and pay me £100 compensation

    however this doesn’t help me as I am still unable to register for social housing.

    I the first response I got from the lgsco the council told them that I signed a declaration that if I find private accommodation the council wouldnt help me, I emailed my case manager at the lgsco and asked to see a copy as I know I wouldn’t sign such a form, this was ignored

    in the next report from the lgsco they said the council wrote to me and told me that now I have private accommodation they won’t help me find housing and that I have 21 days to appeal this decision, I never received such a letter

    i emailed the lgsco asking for a review as I disagree the council made me sign a declaration or they wrote to me. But the lgsco is satisfied that the council are going to apologise to me and pay me the £100

    This doesn’t help me as it doesn’t help me get social housing, I am waiting for an asd assessment and not sure if it is part of asd or it’s just because I’m weird but I’ve never wanted to live in private accommodation and can’t relax

    my question is what options do I have now ? Can I take the council to court ?

    any advice appreciated

  • Cher_Alumni
    Cher_Alumni Scope alumni Posts: 5,714 Championing
    @apples Hi, how are you doing today?

    I'm sorry you're dealing with this difficult situation. It sounds like you've come across a number of barriers to being heard, which must be challenging alongside living with your health conditions. My immediate thought is you need to speak to someone who specialises in housing, and Shelter are best placed to offer you advice around this. If you click through to this 'Get help from Shelter' webpage, there are numerous contact methods including an online chat to speak with one of their advisors.

    Also, you mention not being able to relax, your anxiety and PTSD and I wondered if this was something you were receiving support with from a health professional? 

    Please keep us updated with how you get on and I have everything crossed you get positive news soon.
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    Hi @Cher_Scope

    thanks for the reply, I contacted shelter but they said that due to having lots of cases they may not take my case on and if I don’t hear back by the end of the week they won’t be able to help

    i am on the waiting list to receive help through MINT I was referred back in February and still waiting 
  • hass
    hass Online Community Member Posts: 208 Empowering
     I would contact your local  citizens advice. 
     Some have  sociolotors  that offer free 30 mins legal advise. 
    Please make sure  its a housing 
    Sociolotor..
    You could try your local law center.
  • apples
    apples Online Community Member Posts: 504 Empowering
    Hi @hass

    i contacted citizens advice and they tried telling me that the lgsco haven’t closed my case yet (how they know I don’t know) I told me they had and I received a message telling me they have

    anyway they told me to call back in a couple of weeks

    thanks for the advice

Categories