Homeless Housing Help/Advice Please!

[Smowball]

Most of you know that my middle son was jailed for 3 months. Previously he’d been in supported housing whilst he was looking for work etc. He was released the other day and obviously that housing is no longer there for him. He managed to sleep on a friends sofa that night. Yesterday he spent nearly all day at the offices of this Housing Trust, trying to arrange new accommodation, even if just a room as before. After hours and hours, and sitting around in a park outside waiting for a phone call he was told he wasn’t a priority, despite being stabbed last year and suffering from extreme anxiety, and being on various medications. His previous key support worker even rang the local council to plead his case but they wouldn’t budge.
He went back in and said he literally had nowhere to go and would probably end up sleeping rough on a bench in the park and they just said ok stay safe!!!
He’s rang me this morning - he actually slept in someone’s garden under a bush last night, in the rain. I’m absolutely shell shocked.
And before everyone says oh put him on a train here that’s not what I’m asking. My question is can the council literally say to someone tough luck - go and sleep in a park??
What if it was winter?
Anyone with any experience/advice in this area I would be incredibly grateful.

[Old_Geezer]

No experience, but if no accommodation is available then I wonder what the alternative is. That said, councils seem to go out their way to prevent folk sleeping on a park bench.

[Chinajan]

The council doesn't have to help if they deem someone has made themselves intentionally homeless - and this could be because someone went to prison for committing a crime.

Here's a fact sheet with a freephone number for homeless.org.uk

https://www.nhas.org.uk/docs/Factsheet_Prisoners_housing_on_release.pdf

[Smowball]

Thanks OG/China... I honestly don’t know what they expect him to do then

[mallyh]

my son has slept rough many times as he wasn't a priority . he was given shelter because of the virus and now moved to a hostel .he has mental issues and other problems due to drug taking .

[AuntPollyGrey]

Why can't you give him somewhere to sleep? Personally I would not sleep myself at night knowing one of my sons was sleeping rough. It really would not matter what they had done or how difficult the situation was. .....and if my OH didn't like it then HE could go sleep in the garden! Your poor son must feel abandoned. And feel free to report this -at least you will have read it smow even if its not what you want to hear.

[ummmm]

It probably isn't as simple as that, Polly. I believe Smow's son doesn't live close by. Plus you can't just chuck your husband out especially if he's on the mortgage/rental agreement. Also...what if the son doesn't want to move back even if it's only temporally.

[ummmm]

China - I don't think being in prison is included in becoming intentionally homeless.

[Chinajan]

Hi ummm

I took that information from the factsheet I attached from the National Homeless Advice Service:

'Not intentionally homeless

The council may say you made yourself homeless ‘intentionally’ if you lost your home because you went to prison after committing a crime'

[ummmm]

It 'may' depend on the crime I suppose.

There's a big drive at the moment to get the homeless off the streets due to the virus so places must be very very short.

[Mozz71]

//Why can't you give him somewhere to sleep? Personally I would not sleep myself at night knowing one of my sons was sleeping rough. It really would not matter what they had done or how difficult the situation was. .....and if my OH didn't like it then HE could go sleep in the garden!//

Reading the OP Polly, it looks like Smow didn't know until her lad called her this morning, and now he is on a train on his way to stay with her for a bit.

[mallyh]

in my case aunt polly you have no idea unless you have experienced living with a heroine addict what they do to your life .

[AuntPollyGrey]

Mozz -I don't think so.....read the OP again.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Ummmmm//Plus you can't just chuck your husband out especially if he's on the mortgage/rental agreement. //

That was more of a joke -like -'my sons sleeping on the sofa if you don't like it you can sleep elsewhere.'

As I question the validity of most of the OP's posts I'll leave it there lol!

[AuntPollyGrey]

Mally, no you are correct. I have no idea what it would be like if one of my children was a heroin addict. All I know is I would fight to help them until there was no fight left in me.

[Mozz71]

I disagree Polly, it seems to me that he called Smow this morning and told her the whole sorry tale.

//As I question the validity of most of the OP's posts I'll leave it there lol!//

Maybe this is the issue, you're just looking to discredit any post Smow makes? Anyway, I'm not here to wage war, I'm sure Smow can clarify things when she logs on next.

[Peter Pedant]

I dont know the answer smow
I just hope ( well pray actually I am a bit silly that way) that things get sorted in an acceptable way

[back to ma Hail Marys]

[AuntPollyGrey]

// I'm sure Smow can clarify things when she logs on next.//

No..........she won't.

I'm not looking to discredit anyone. I voiced my opinion on the matter and would have the same opinion whoever had posted the question.

[Mozz71]

No worries Polly, I didn't mean to insinuate anything by what I said.

[AuntPollyGrey]

no problem :-)