loulou Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Hi, I live in a TINY 2bed council house. It's just me and Kai but his bedroom is so tiny and the rest of the house is cramped. He doesn't have any room to play and being ADHD/ASD it is an absolute NIGHTMARE. He's a very big boy (in age 9-10 clothes at age 7). He has loads of meltdowns and the only "safe" place i can put him is in the bathroom. I have applied to the council to be transferred to a bigger house and i was awarded 50 points for Kai. I was told that i'd have to wait about 2 Years to move . I wrote to the Head of Housing explaining my situation and got a reply today. It basically say there's nothing they can do and i will have "quite a wait" until i can move. It also says, "I empathise that your current housing situation is not ideal." Yeah right, i'd like to her to see for herself what it's like. I have also tried to get a mutual exchange, but have not found anything suitable. It's really getting me down . We have been referred to the OT department, who MAY be able to push the council to move us, but their waiting list is 6 months long. Does anyone know what else i can try, or who i could write to? I think we'll both go crazy living here for much longer. Loulou x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fiorelli Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Can you see if your local council has links with a housing association and ask if you could go on their lists as well? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Hi fiorelli, Thanks. I'm on the H/A list too. They phoned me and offered me an even smaller house then mine! It's just so frustrating. I'm going insane in this place. Kai is always crashing into everything and he's like a caged bird! loulou x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bid Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Hi Loulou <'> When we were needing to be housed, I got letters from my son's specialist and the consultant I was seeing at the time, emphasising the desperate nature of our situation. Sorry if you've already done this...I have to admit that I felt that I had absolutely no pride left when I was forced to do this, but then I couldn't afford to have any! It did work for us, so maybe worth a try?? Good luck...I do know how awful it is to be in a tiny house... Bid <'> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Kathryn Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Lou lou, <'> I know they're absolutely useless round here but dare I mention Social Services? The children with disabilities team might be able to help . K x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phasmid Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Been here...twice! Letters from anyone can help, to a point, so get them from; OT, GP, MP, SS and any specialists your child or YOU see. They need to describe the effect the current housing situation is havving on the whole family. As I say this will help to a point. However the best tactic is to keep on at them, daily if needs be - I put the housing dept on speed dial! Put the pressure on them. If they have the swap list on the net (some do, some don't) check it daily - they don't cross-reference these things in many cases...and new houses appear on a daily basis. You have to make your case stick in their heads and getting in their face is the best way to do it. Don't forget to look at all the Housing associations in your area as well as the council. I hope you get something sorted soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jen Report post Posted February 10, 2006 I would contact your social services department and ask them for there advice on how to keep your son safe during meltdowns and where he has his own space. Provide them with the reports you already have. Ask your consultant for a letter stating he needs a safe space area which is quite and safe for him to use. This along with the OT should help. Jen Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainbow queen Report post Posted February 10, 2006 hi lou lou first off dont let there reply dishearten you its just wall that needs to be knocked down with plenty of letters and dertermination. i have just moved into a council house after being in private rent for nearly 5 years because they kept refusing me. they told me many times i wouldnt get anything the trick is to completetly bypass this by what ever means you can till they weaken and give in. first off make sure you do fill in all the housing associations forms to cause the council can check u done and proves your wanting it bad. like the above posts said collect all your evidence on your children -photo copy and send to the top head of housing and your local mp telling him of what trouble your having. get a list of all the negative points about your house from every room so you have more to go on-ie-no garden,damp,no ventalation,bad stairs ect.... i did most of my work on them with letters really as i dont like confrontation in the offices-can you belive it not once did they call me in to see me-mind you i had been in before when i first approached them-i was living at my oaps parents one bedroomed flat with baby and they refused to offer me anything then-thats why i went into private rent -bad move as i then lost all my points.so 5 years later i tryed again-i had letters of health visitor/social services/gp/phychatrist/mp/mental health out reach worker/and the police[but that was cause of they tried saying they move me to area where my abusive ex lived] dont give in cause thats what they expect you to do-it did take me months-i wrote letters nearly every night,then out of blue i got a home vist-in which the lady even tryed saying i had no hope of getting one where id put done-so i wrote to mp again -week later she had to eat humble pie as she rang to offer me a 3 bedroomed in the area i had wanted. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
smallworld Report post Posted February 10, 2006 Hi, just an idea, another option is to start pushing for an extension through the 'disabled facilities grant'. to do this you need to get an assessment from a SS OT, I do know of a family who were re-housed cos it was cheaper than the OT recommended extra bedroom. HTH, wac Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirstie Report post Posted February 11, 2006 I understand what you're going through, Get this, there's five of us in a two bedroomed flat! It is a good sized flat and i love the area, but i applied to the council to review my situation as we had Lew diagnosed and the baby had been born and teenage son is getting no sleep.......... Anyway it took them long enough to get here, and when the guy from the council came and interviewed me he then told me i couldn't have the Gold priority health award (bumps you up the list if you bid for a property) so i appealed and still it's the same. My children have a basic right to adequate housing, but they aint budging. I'm on a ground floor flat so that is actually going against me They did say why not try for ownership option, where they council give you 20k toward a mortgage blah blah. In my area the flats are going for over 90k i'd never afford it! So, i know how annoying it is, keep going though and involve your local Mp and see if you can't lean on them together! Good luck, Kirstie. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
hev Report post Posted February 11, 2006 loulou,i was in your situation,it was a nightmare,since we have moved we have our own space and its much better. i went to the doctors and he sent council a letter,got my mp involved and cahms also wrote a letter for me,dont give up hope just keep on pushing and you will get a new home,i was so disheartened at times but i kept phoning,writing letters,good luck love hev Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OPooh Report post Posted February 12, 2006 My 9 year old ds son has to share a bedroom that just fits a bunk bed in with his2 year old brother it's that small and they still wont rehouse us. Also because we are private rent they say we adequately housed. He wont go outside unless it's the backgarden (at a push) toplay on his own and ours is ridiculouslytiny- but nooooo. So we've got to the point where we're thinking of relocating again so we can afford to buy good luck Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
loulou Report post Posted February 12, 2006 Hi, Thanks for all your replies and tips. I will get my SW to write a letter. The council told me there's nothing more i can do, but i'm sure they just want me to keep quiet and go away! It's crazy how they think it's ok for families to be so cramped. My house is very small, even for a "normal" family, but having a Tasmanian Devil in it is impossible! Kirstie, I can't believe you have three children it a 2 bed flat . I think some councils are better then others and some people seem to just get moved b/c they make a fuss. A woman opposite me was given a three bed house with two reception rooms and it's just her and a toddler . Who was it that suggested buying an island? Loulou x Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
