What’s Your Problem? - Sam’s story
Sam, 17
“I’ve left home, and there’s no way I’d go back now. My Dad was always yelling at me, but then he started hitting me and I couldn’t take it any more. I know if I go back, sooner or later he’ll start hitting me again and it will just get worse.
I stayed with friends, sleeping on their floors, but then I ran out of people I could stay with.
I spoke to the Council, but they told me they can’t do anything because I’m not in priority need.”
How did Sam sort it out?
“I went to Connexions and they told me to call Community Legal Advice. Community Legal Advice helped me find a local housing adviser. When I spoke to the housing adviser, she told me that the Council had no right to refuse to help me. She said I am in priority need because I’m under 18 and homeless. She phoned the Council for me, and the Council agreed to see me again the same day. The Council put me into a hostel that night, so at least I had a roof over my head.
My housing adviser asked me about how I was coping, and said she could ask Social Services to help me if I wanted it. I didn’t want to go into care. My adviser reassured me that this wasn’t going to happen if I didn’t need it. Social Services assessed me, and helped me get a place in supported housing, and made sure I wouldn’t be kicked out of the hostel until I moved in. I’m getting the help I need so that I'll be ready to live on my own when I move out of supported housing.”
Take action
1. Get advice. The law on homelessness is not easy to understand.
2. When you talk to someone at the Council Housing Department or Social Services, always write down
* The name of who you spoke to
* What they agreed to do
* And when they agreed to do it.
Keep your note. It could be useful if you need advice later.
3. It shouldn’t make any difference to you if you contact Council Housing or Social Services. Whoever you contact should assess your needs, and if you need more help, refer you to the other department. But they should not send you somewhere else without making sure that you have somewhere to stay first. Remember – if you’re unhappy about the way you’re treated you can complain, and get independent advice.
Don’t delay, do it today!
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