Hi,

I just registered to ask for some advice! I don't know which part of the forum is best to post it at because I couldn't find a correct category so just posting it here.

I'm going to be homeless soon. I've been signed off sick and unable to work because of problems with my mental health for about 18 months now. My landlord refused to give me an up to date copy of my tenancy agreement to make a claim for benefits (The rent was reduced before when I was studying, and I advised the benefits place of this when originally trying to make the housing benefit claim), saying that I can't claim benefits here which I found out is because he's committing council tax fraud (It's a house converted to flats but he said to the council it's bedsits so only 1 council tax payment is required for the whole house instead of for each individual flat).

I've asked him multiple times for an up to date copy of my tenancy and he wont give me it, and started harrassing me telling me he wants the money but when I can't claim benefits because he wont provide me the tenancy agreement there's no way I can pay him because I'm not well enough to work. I started ignoring him and he didn't do anything for ages. I know it's the wrong thing to do but when I can't afford to move because I barely get enough money to live on, and can't pay my rent to him there's nothing else I can do, so he's not received any rent in most of the time I've been on benefits (After the bit of savings I had ran out).

Now I spoke to him again today and got into an argument with him and he said he's evicting me and has apparently already served an eviction notice, which I haven't received. I've been having post going missing since before Christmas and I suspect it's him taking it. All the post goes through the front door to the house, then I just collect it from there, so it's either him or another tenant. I also even had a letter from the gender clinic opened by someone and then left there which really freaked me out because nobody in my life is aware of me being trans apart from my dr and the gender clinic.

I don't know what to do now. I know I'll be evicted soon because I can't pay him money because he refuses to give me a tenancy agreement which is because of his council tax fraud, and I don't know if being trans is something the council would take into consideration when rehoming people, because if they don't then I know I don't fit any of their priority groups and not be eligible for housing. I really don't know what to do anymore.. I've been very depressed for a long time and I feel like this is the final straw. If I can't find somewhere to live, I'm going to rehome my cats and end my life before I have to leave, because I don't want to be out on the streets because I'll not be able to get my hormones, not be able to shave my face, etc.

I really don't know what to do and I'm starting to panic a bit so posting here hoping someone has some experience or knowledge of how things work to give me advice. I also have nobody in my life that can help me with somewhere to stay. I have no contact with my parents or any of my family and I have no friends anymore because I spent the last 18 months very depressed and suicidal and isolated myself from everyone..

Thanks for any advice..

I forgot to say I'm in the UK (West Midlands) if that makes some difference

Right first things first which country are you in? Because this is a worldwide site and your rights and best the way forward will vary considerably depending on where you are.

Obviously don't give away any personal details but country (and possibly state/county or region) will be important to people trying to give good advice.

For example I'm in the UK and could give adice about Devon& Cornwall and London - but I know nothing of USA - whereas someone from USA may not be able to advice on the quite considerable social safety nets that still do exist in the UK.

Quote from: SoonToBeHomeless on June 05, 2015, 04:17:26 PM
I forgot to say I'm in the UK if that makes some difference

Ok so do you have a mental health key worker? You should do and they will be able to unlock various additional help for you. I know this because I'm a medical student and I have some experience already with working with MH patients.

How old are you? You will sadly have limited housing and housing benefit rights if you are under 25?

Are you in any form of employment?

Also under the UK landlord and tennant legislation its sounds as though your landlord may be playing a bit fast and loose so tomorrow you need to get down to citizens advice and see if you need to access some free legal advice.

Also you should try to find out about hostels in your area as soon as you can because they ultimately may save your life if you are kicked out suddenly.

Hi soontobehomeless. welcome to Susan's. I'm so sorry to hear that. Are there any government resources where you live. I look forward to seeing you around the forums. good luck and Hugs
Mariah

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Quote from: Rejennyrated on June 05, 2015, 04:24:44 PM
Ok so do you have a mental health key worker? You should do and they will be able to unlock various help for you. I know this because I'm a medical student and I have some experience already with MH patients.

How old are you? You will have limited housing and housing benefit rights if you are under 25?

Are you in any form of employment?

Also under the UK landlord and tennant legislation its sounds as though your landlord may be playing a bit fast and loose so tomorrow you need to get down to citizens advice and see if you need to access some free legal advice.

Also you should try to find out about hostels in your area as soon as you can because they ultimately may save your life if you are kicked out suddenly.

I did get sent to the mental health service for my area but I stopped attending because they were lying to me and not offering any help.. I asked my GP to go to one of the different places in my area that has mental health services but she just said they wont be able to do anything that place cant, but I refuse to see them anymore..

First I got assigned a care coordinator who assessed me and referred me to a psychologist and made promises to me about when the sessions would start, which would take about 4 or 5 months.. I was hoping i'd be well enough to return to uni for the next academic year and he assured me i'd be starting my sessions before that and i'd likely be well enough to return, but then when i did finally get sent to the psychologist about 6 months after being assessed i was told it's another assessment and when i got really upset in the appointment about it and explained that shaun told me this is when my sessions would start, she just told me it'll be another 6 months and when she wrote the report to my dr, she didn't even mention any of the lies, and when i tried phone them to get a new care coordinator they wouldn't do that either so i refused to continue going there..

Also I'm 27 and have limited housing benfits because i'm under 35 (It got changed a few years ago and now if you're under 35 you're only eligible for help with a shared accommodation, and i don't think i can live with other people how i am at the moment) and I'm not in any sort of employment and haven't been for about 18 months because of my mental health problems. I have severe anxiety and depression and find it extremely difficult to even leave my flat, so I've spent the last 18 months isolating myself from everyone and everything other than my 3 cats..

Oh ok I see the problem now. It is a shame you stopped going but that cant be helped now.

You mention being trans - that isnt specifically a priority group - but again coupled with your history of mental health issues it might lead to you being considered a vulnerable adult which could help your cause.

Also if you do start seriously thinking about suicide I would URGE you to go to your local hospital and make that very clear to them, because if I, even as a very junior clinician, see someone and am concerned about their mental state and if there is a clear history of mental health issues, it will trigger people to get involved.

Meantime organisations like shelter, homelessuk.org and indeed LGBT orgainsations like Stonewall may all be worth trying to access help.

Also your care coordinator or social worker should be able to helo too.

Quote from: Rejennyrated on June 05, 2015, 04:39:51 PM
Oh ok I see the problem now. It is a shame you stopped going but that cant be helped now.

You mention being trans - that isnt specifically a priority group - but again coupled with your history of mental health issues it might lead to you being considered a vulnerable adult which could help your cause.

Also if you do start seriously thinking about suicide I would URGE you to go to your local hospital and make that very clear to them, because if I, even as a very junior clinician, see someone and am concerned about their mental state and if there is a clear history of mental health issues, it will trigger people to get involved.

Meantime organisations like shelter, homelessuk.org and indeed LGBT orgainsations like Stonewall may all be worth trying to access help.

I went to A&E twice in the past when I felt very unsafe and wanted some help, but they didn't help in the slightest.. Just talked to me for about 30 minutes, said they'd write to my doctor, then nothing else happened, so I have no faith in them anymore. I've felt in crisis similar to that a few times since then, but whats the point going there when they're going to do nothing, i just keep telling myself i cant because my cats would starve to death if i did..

Quote from: SoonToBeHomeless on June 05, 2015, 04:42:47 PM
I went to A&E twice in the past when I felt very unsafe and wanted some help, but they didn't help in the slightest.. Just talked to me for about 30 minutes, said they'd write to my doctor, then nothing else happened, so I have no faith in them anymore. I've felt in crisis similar to that a few times since then, but whats the point going there when they're going to do nothing, i just keep telling myself i cant because my cats would starve to death if i did..

Look like everything else, sometimes when you go you see someone who doesn't understand the issues that you have, but if you keep going eventually you will find someone who gets it ,whereas if you give up then no one will help, which would be a real shame. So please do keep trying.

They are overworked and under-resourced, and sometime they dont pick up on things so you do have to be very clear and quite persistant about the issues you face. For example just going in and saying you "feel" suicidal probably isnt going to cut any ice - however if there is evidence that you have made plans - and you can demonstrate that you have been feeling this way for some time - then you WILL get more attention.

Now sadly the test of that is partly that when we send you away you do keep coming back. If you give up then sometimes the doctors smile and think well it obviously wasnt that bad, but if you keep coming back maybe four five six times - then eventually they WILL take you seriously because every time you turn up that gets documented, and eventually all those incidents will PROVE that you have been feeling suicidal for a very long time - which is one of the diagnostic criteria that you need to fulfill to get taken a bit more seriously.

You see what I am getting at? Its horrible I know and I dont know any doctor that likes the way things are, but in these days with limited resources it really is often mainly persistance that gets you anywhere, which I know is very unfair to someone like you who finds it difficult to get out - so please understand i'm not unsympathetic I'm just trying to give a little hint as to how the system works.