I can't articulate the magnitude so I won't even try.
Tomorrow morning I have a 2 hour exam which if I pass will be a positive step in direction of my dreams - namely to learn shorthand (in the short-term) and get a payrise.(in the long-term)
Tomorrow afternoon I am viewing a flat. This is huge, this is so big, this is enormous.
The flat is great for my son, but not for me, on account of Zat bike and there being no space for it. It's a form of transport I need. Would you get rid of your much loved car because the home you've had a choiceless choice to move into meant you had to? Anyway, I'm saying YES and feel really fucking sick. I don't want to lose the bike. Argos have a 65% clearance sale going on though so timing couldn't be more perfect if we got it. Starting from scratch here...neither of us have beds and that's just the start...
I need to share some coincidences...I'll be quick, I don't like long posts particularly unless they are well written and well, love Stigmum as I do, I am her conduit and a hopeless judge.
The flat I'm viewing tomorrow is in the same block, or next door to the block where I said 'no' to a flat 6 years ago. (The first person had accepted it so I didn't see why I had to...)
I got a call on Tuesday, after posting (!) to go and view a flat I bid on in.... Papier Mache Towers! Yes, the place my son and I wrote this entire blog from when we were being evicted. "Aren't there plans to knock it down?" I said to the woman on the phone. "I don't know about that," she said. "I'm only given names to call. Do you want to view it?"
Yesterday I bet myself that on the bidding boards today, there would be a garden flat. There would be my 'ideal home'.
Bingo! There it was. Ground and basement floors with a garden. Steps so not for wheelchairs. And where is it? Why, the very street my son first lived on. A few doors down from where we both lived with the Foca. The very first place we were booted out from. Well, given no choice but to leave.
It made me think about Posh Street, where we were evicted from afterwards, narrowly avoiding a hostel only to land in Papier Mache Towers. I'd stand in the Posh Street's park in those dark days and implore the sky: "Please, one day, bring me back to Rochester!" like a Bronte heroine, only not half as cool.
Imagine...(I breathe, it is, all, if not too much, alot)
Anything could happen. Who knows what can happen? Not me (I've been reading posts that I saw others had read from Stiggers stats - long story ey stigs, a long long story but them readers picked some good ones for me to read back on. Your best is sometimes hard to find)
I'm praying I pass that exam tomorrow morning.
With the housing, I'm praying, I'm praying hard for the best outcome.
Whatever happens, I'm saying YES.
With that I relinquish control and hope the best, whatever that may be, comes to me and my boy.
My son, my sun, my boy, my buoy.
He asked to sleep in my bed tonight - "So you can hear me breathing if you can't sleep. I remember you said that used to help you when we shared a room"
How many times can you win in life?
I won with him; my son my sun my buoy, my boy.
I win for him now.
best outcomes best outcome best outcomes
Showing posts with label Bidding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bidding. Show all posts
Thursday, 10 January 2013
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
At the Coal Face
At the Coal Face - written the day before a viewing in November, my first viewing in five years. I was Number 12 for a housing association flat. I was struggling so took myself off to a vietnamese woman for a pedicure
At the Coal Face - viewing a property
It's all so tight
in the throat
particularly
Easier to breathe
through the nose
breathe
release the chains bound tightly
across the chest
Leave to God
Trust to God
He has a master plan
You can say Yes and something better will come
Enjoy the pedicure
There is space for you
to make space
within
At the Coal Face - viewing a property
It's all so tight
in the throat
particularly
Easier to breathe
through the nose
breathe
release the chains bound tightly
across the chest
Leave to God
Trust to God
He has a master plan
You can say Yes and something better will come
Enjoy the pedicure
There is space for you
to make space
within
Invitation to view a property
The council called me yesterday at 8.50 am to ask if I'd been contacted in regards to viewing a flat. The viewing was meant to be that afternoon but it seemed no-one had been told. I wasn't surprised to get an invitation. I don't know why. Possibly because I like this flat we're in. This flat we can't stay in.
She called again at 10am where my son rather unhelpfully told her I was 'sleeping in bed', which I wasn't. We were both being lazy and playing and tickling and being generally silly... 'sleeping in bed...' tsk..
Friday. I view it Friday. A two bedroom flat. Third floor. One double room, one single. Blow heating. (Blow heating? Is that similar to totally ineffectual storage heating?) Shared garden.
I'm Number 2.
I should be excited but I'm not, I'm terrified.
It's much further, much much further to a main road, public transport and shops BUT I can relax about my son's education and my job, that those aren't disrupted.
Zat. Zat bike. What will happen to you Zat? I still need you to get to work. Where will you live?
"It's a big decision," said the woman from the council.
I have to say there and then if I want it or not.
I can't say no can I? They say you can but read me and my experience and you know I can't.
The choices we are forced to make are not the choices we would love to make. Everywhere I've bid on recently, or risk being taken off the lists, have been on estates I wouldn't 'choose' to raise my child.
My son caught me crying yesterday afternoon. "Don't worry mummy, we'll move in, play the lottery, win and then buy something brilliant."
Perspectives huh.
I thank the world for my son everyday. I ask the world to protect my son everyday.
I'm Number 2. Number 1 could always say "Yes"
She called again at 10am where my son rather unhelpfully told her I was 'sleeping in bed', which I wasn't. We were both being lazy and playing and tickling and being generally silly... 'sleeping in bed...' tsk..
Friday. I view it Friday. A two bedroom flat. Third floor. One double room, one single. Blow heating. (Blow heating? Is that similar to totally ineffectual storage heating?) Shared garden.
I'm Number 2.
I should be excited but I'm not, I'm terrified.
It's much further, much much further to a main road, public transport and shops BUT I can relax about my son's education and my job, that those aren't disrupted.
Zat. Zat bike. What will happen to you Zat? I still need you to get to work. Where will you live?
"It's a big decision," said the woman from the council.
I have to say there and then if I want it or not.
I can't say no can I? They say you can but read me and my experience and you know I can't.
The choices we are forced to make are not the choices we would love to make. Everywhere I've bid on recently, or risk being taken off the lists, have been on estates I wouldn't 'choose' to raise my child.
My son caught me crying yesterday afternoon. "Don't worry mummy, we'll move in, play the lottery, win and then buy something brilliant."
Perspectives huh.
I thank the world for my son everyday. I ask the world to protect my son everyday.
I'm Number 2. Number 1 could always say "Yes"
Thursday, 9 February 2012
The Government is bad for our health
If I have made myself ill it is because the Government has made me ill.
I have tried not to allow it to get to me but it depresses me; makes me angry, gets me pissed off. I can only articulate it on here, it silences me in reality, renders me mute. "I don't like it when you're in your daydream head mummy," says my son. I may go to the Women's Centre and start articulating it there. I told them I'd pop by, when I met them at the lobby.
If I have made myself ill it is because of recurring evictions and a State that can but won't stop this cycle; won't regulate rents or build affordable homes. It's disgusting, disgusting what's going on. Private landlords aren't dropping rents and housing associations are increasing theirs. I know all this because the perk, if you like, of being in a need of housing situation, is that you have access to what social and council properties are available and for how much they are going for.
All this makes me ill.
A government who forces me out to work during a recession, when I have a job already. I'm a childminder, though paid less. Oh, doesn't my child count?
Is motherhood not valued anymore?
Is it a 'non job'?
Is that why lone parents aren't given social housing anymore, because they don't "work"?
This government has put me on ESA, with its damning policies and legislations.
Everytime I get better I get knocked down.
A nation of knocked down people.
I'm no different to a criminal forced to do community service - voluntary work by another name - internships - we won't pay you - and we'll take away the childcare so you have nowhere to outsource your primary occupation - ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa.
I love writing this shit.
I could keep writing it, keep writing it if it makes ONE PERSON THINK
I've got to stop thinking though. That's what's got me into my mess, well, according to Louise Hay, according to me.
Angry, pissed off, hurting, hurting hurting hurting
A nation of angry, pissed off, hurting people.
A generation of children living with angry, pissed off, hurting people, bounced from one home to another, overcrowded, cold, in debt.
I wanted to give you a happy ending. Oh! I can't!
"By the time people wake up, the damage will have been done," the Ed said to me.
Yeah...
Read all about it! Read all about it!!
I have to rest now, think of my son.
My son, my sun, my son
I'm blessed, that's the problem isn't it Prime Minister?
I have tried not to allow it to get to me but it depresses me; makes me angry, gets me pissed off. I can only articulate it on here, it silences me in reality, renders me mute. "I don't like it when you're in your daydream head mummy," says my son. I may go to the Women's Centre and start articulating it there. I told them I'd pop by, when I met them at the lobby.
If I have made myself ill it is because of recurring evictions and a State that can but won't stop this cycle; won't regulate rents or build affordable homes. It's disgusting, disgusting what's going on. Private landlords aren't dropping rents and housing associations are increasing theirs. I know all this because the perk, if you like, of being in a need of housing situation, is that you have access to what social and council properties are available and for how much they are going for.
All this makes me ill.
A government who forces me out to work during a recession, when I have a job already. I'm a childminder, though paid less. Oh, doesn't my child count?
Is motherhood not valued anymore?
Is it a 'non job'?
Is that why lone parents aren't given social housing anymore, because they don't "work"?
This government has put me on ESA, with its damning policies and legislations.
Everytime I get better I get knocked down.
A nation of knocked down people.
I'm no different to a criminal forced to do community service - voluntary work by another name - internships - we won't pay you - and we'll take away the childcare so you have nowhere to outsource your primary occupation - ha ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha haaaaaa.
I love writing this shit.
I could keep writing it, keep writing it if it makes ONE PERSON THINK
I've got to stop thinking though. That's what's got me into my mess, well, according to Louise Hay, according to me.
Angry, pissed off, hurting, hurting hurting hurting
A nation of angry, pissed off, hurting people.
A generation of children living with angry, pissed off, hurting people, bounced from one home to another, overcrowded, cold, in debt.
I wanted to give you a happy ending. Oh! I can't!
"By the time people wake up, the damage will have been done," the Ed said to me.
Yeah...
Read all about it! Read all about it!!
I have to rest now, think of my son.
My son, my sun, my son
I'm blessed, that's the problem isn't it Prime Minister?
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Will the council house me if I have cancer?
BANISH THAT THOUGHT
As soon as the thought came to me, I told it to FUCK.RIGHT.OFF.
You'll get extra points
FUCK OFF
Imagine telling your support worker
FUCK OFF
You see reader, I knew a French single mum who still lives in her bedsit up the road with her son my son's age.
She got a brain tumour. Did they house her? No!
She was on death's door. Did they house her? No!
The system doesn't care whether you live or die! Infact, dying will reduce the waiting list! So the council, much to the ConDems pleasure, will say or think, can't be quoted after all, 'hurry up and get on with it!'
So get that thought RIGHT AWAY FROM YOU before you create within you a disease you DO NOT WANT.
I lovingly forgive and release all of the past. I choose to fill my world with joy. I love and approve of myself.
(Louise L Hay You Can Heal Your Life under Cancer)
It's hard Louise it's hard, particularly when your past is in your present and you are forced to think about it because you are forced to bid every week
No-one ever said the healing process was easy
Right now, you are safe
Write another post and let go of this one. (Stigmum)
I lovingly release the past and turn my attention to this new day. All is well.
(Louise under Tumors)
MOVE...into the next moment...MOVE
As soon as the thought came to me, I told it to FUCK.RIGHT.OFF.
You'll get extra points
FUCK OFF
Imagine telling your support worker
FUCK OFF
You see reader, I knew a French single mum who still lives in her bedsit up the road with her son my son's age.
She got a brain tumour. Did they house her? No!
She was on death's door. Did they house her? No!
The system doesn't care whether you live or die! Infact, dying will reduce the waiting list! So the council, much to the ConDems pleasure, will say or think, can't be quoted after all, 'hurry up and get on with it!'
So get that thought RIGHT AWAY FROM YOU before you create within you a disease you DO NOT WANT.
I lovingly forgive and release all of the past. I choose to fill my world with joy. I love and approve of myself.
(Louise L Hay You Can Heal Your Life under Cancer)
It's hard Louise it's hard, particularly when your past is in your present and you are forced to think about it because you are forced to bid every week
No-one ever said the healing process was easy
Right now, you are safe
Write another post and let go of this one. (Stigmum)
I lovingly release the past and turn my attention to this new day. All is well.
(Louise under Tumors)
MOVE...into the next moment...MOVE
Friday, 13 January 2012
The new "affordable" social housing
I figured while I'm already down, I may as well go into to bid for properties, seeing as I usually can't do it as it drops my mood into a big black hole.
I bid on three out of ten (Lucky bids on all of them and with her 900 + points has turned down all the properties she's been shortlisted for apart from the garden properties where she's been number 2 or 3 on the list so has missed out. I tend to bid for what I don't want to turn down, though in truth, I wouldn't want to live on any of the estates I bid on today. Still, my post isn't about that, so onward...)
I had a glimpse at one bed properties (because I've been advised to bid on one of those...oh don't make me angrier...) and well, I was quite surprised:
1 bedroom affordable rent flat on a small estate. Comprising one good size double bedroom, living room with period feature windows, fully fitted kitchen and bathroom with white suite. 4th floor. No lift. Full central heating. The estate is only a few minutes walk from Russell Square tube station and numerous buses. The successful candidate will benefit from an initial 1 year Introductory AST tenancy and on successful completion of their tenancy conditions, they will be issued with a 5 year fixed term AST tenancy. The rental charge for this property is £226.00 per week which equates to approximately £979.33 per month. Ward: King’s Cross. Approx rent: £226 pw. (Housing Association) "Affordable" ?
Compared to:
1 bedroom flat (single) on an individual block. Open plan living room and kitchen. 1st floor with lift access. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a strong tie to the Covent Garden area. Sensitive Let. Housing Co-operative. Council Tax Band: D. Ward: Holborn and Covent Garden. Approx rent: £87 pw.
1 bedroom flat (double) in an individual block. 3rd floor with lift access and 1 external step. District heating. Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: D.
District: Holborn. Ward: Bloomsbury. Approx rent: £126 pw.
or
1 bedroom flat (double) on a large estate. 3rd floor with lift access. Full central heating. Sensitive Let.Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: B.
District: Holborn. Ward: King’s Cross. Approx rent: £95 pw
Compared to:
2 bedroom flat (1 double 1 single) in an individual block.
4th floor with 36 external steps. Lift access. No adaptations.
No right to acquire. No Pets. Electric storage heating.
Landlord: (Housing Association). Ward: Holborn and Covent Garden. Approx rent: £145 pw.
or what I bid on
2 bedroom flat (doubles) on a small estate. 3rd floor with lift access. District heating. Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: B. District: Kentish Town. Ward: Kentish Town.
Approx rent: £121 pw.
Watch all rents and all tenancies shoot up to that first one I listed, which touts itself as 'affordable' at £226 per week.
That word "affordable"...I think it's being written out of the dictionary, same with the word "secure"
The fight's not over. I hope I'm wrong.
(and a quick maths test for you... on two I bid for I'm 60th out of 230 and on the third 64th out of 221...work it out!)
I bid on three out of ten (Lucky bids on all of them and with her 900 + points has turned down all the properties she's been shortlisted for apart from the garden properties where she's been number 2 or 3 on the list so has missed out. I tend to bid for what I don't want to turn down, though in truth, I wouldn't want to live on any of the estates I bid on today. Still, my post isn't about that, so onward...)
I had a glimpse at one bed properties (because I've been advised to bid on one of those...oh don't make me angrier...) and well, I was quite surprised:
1 bedroom affordable rent flat on a small estate. Comprising one good size double bedroom, living room with period feature windows, fully fitted kitchen and bathroom with white suite. 4th floor. No lift. Full central heating. The estate is only a few minutes walk from Russell Square tube station and numerous buses. The successful candidate will benefit from an initial 1 year Introductory AST tenancy and on successful completion of their tenancy conditions, they will be issued with a 5 year fixed term AST tenancy. The rental charge for this property is £226.00 per week which equates to approximately £979.33 per month. Ward: King’s Cross. Approx rent: £226 pw. (Housing Association) "Affordable" ?
Compared to:
1 bedroom flat (single) on an individual block. Open plan living room and kitchen. 1st floor with lift access. The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a strong tie to the Covent Garden area. Sensitive Let. Housing Co-operative. Council Tax Band: D. Ward: Holborn and Covent Garden. Approx rent: £87 pw.
1 bedroom flat (double) in an individual block. 3rd floor with lift access and 1 external step. District heating. Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: D.
District: Holborn. Ward: Bloomsbury. Approx rent: £126 pw.
or
1 bedroom flat (double) on a large estate. 3rd floor with lift access. Full central heating. Sensitive Let.Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: B.
District: Holborn. Ward: King’s Cross. Approx rent: £95 pw
Compared to:
2 bedroom flat (1 double 1 single) in an individual block.
4th floor with 36 external steps. Lift access. No adaptations.
No right to acquire. No Pets. Electric storage heating.
Landlord: (Housing Association). Ward: Holborn and Covent Garden. Approx rent: £145 pw.
or what I bid on
2 bedroom flat (doubles) on a small estate. 3rd floor with lift access. District heating. Landlord: Camden Council. Council Tax Band: B. District: Kentish Town. Ward: Kentish Town.
Approx rent: £121 pw.
Watch all rents and all tenancies shoot up to that first one I listed, which touts itself as 'affordable' at £226 per week.
That word "affordable"...I think it's being written out of the dictionary, same with the word "secure"
The fight's not over. I hope I'm wrong.
(and a quick maths test for you... on two I bid for I'm 60th out of 230 and on the third 64th out of 221...work it out!)
Wednesday, 4 January 2012
Back to Housing...2012
I have just written a lovely post about my son back at school. Lovely for me, not for you necessarily.
The Back to School label was going to harbour a post about my son, yes, but also, blogging. Back to blogging
Back to blogging...
Back to housing?
Well I don't know
I asked myself why I had a housing 2011 label last year. I should have given myself a break from it, not thought about That Which Makes Me Want To Kill Myself.
I know why I didn't though; the legislations were still untabled (untabled?) I could still try to stop them going through.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Oh my God, what was I thinking?!!!
That even if I'd put more into it, possibly written more articles, or letters, or tweets to the housing minister no-one would be losing their homes this year, thousands instead would move into secure affordable ones???!
Oh my, I'm so funny!!!! Fantastically deluded!!!!
I do not know why I have set up a Housing 2012 label. I think I had a thought over the holidays that I would have to start thinking about bidding this year and the label MIGHT help me do that. But what more can I tell you about bidding that I already haven't? Jack shit, that's what.
Listen, I'm going to send my It Could Be You article to a couple more politicians. Need to follow those voracious dreams I had over Christmas even if it's pointless (talking of which my points should go up this year...ten years in the borough..ten years....a decade...oh my God, a decade lost, lost to...)
After that, well I Don't Know
See what comes ey
I'm told I'm protected from the housing benefit cuts but I'm not protected from arrears if I get a job (parenting is a job isn't it?), am I? Are you?
"Happy New Fear!" the Estimator said to me in the coffee shop this morning.
Years I've been afraid, years, you know, three of them are recorded.
For an Estimator to say Happy New Fear
well all I can say is
Welcome to my world all you middle classes
The Back to School label was going to harbour a post about my son, yes, but also, blogging. Back to blogging
Back to blogging...
Back to housing?
Well I don't know
I asked myself why I had a housing 2011 label last year. I should have given myself a break from it, not thought about That Which Makes Me Want To Kill Myself.
I know why I didn't though; the legislations were still untabled (untabled?) I could still try to stop them going through.
Ha ha ha ha ha
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!
Oh my God, what was I thinking?!!!
That even if I'd put more into it, possibly written more articles, or letters, or tweets to the housing minister no-one would be losing their homes this year, thousands instead would move into secure affordable ones???!
Oh my, I'm so funny!!!! Fantastically deluded!!!!
I do not know why I have set up a Housing 2012 label. I think I had a thought over the holidays that I would have to start thinking about bidding this year and the label MIGHT help me do that. But what more can I tell you about bidding that I already haven't? Jack shit, that's what.
Listen, I'm going to send my It Could Be You article to a couple more politicians. Need to follow those voracious dreams I had over Christmas even if it's pointless (talking of which my points should go up this year...ten years in the borough..ten years....a decade...oh my God, a decade lost, lost to...)
After that, well I Don't Know
See what comes ey
I'm told I'm protected from the housing benefit cuts but I'm not protected from arrears if I get a job (parenting is a job isn't it?), am I? Are you?
"Happy New Fear!" the Estimator said to me in the coffee shop this morning.
Years I've been afraid, years, you know, three of them are recorded.
For an Estimator to say Happy New Fear
well all I can say is
Welcome to my world all you middle classes
Tuesday, 6 December 2011
Punitive policies and suicidal thoughts in emails
This is long because it is three emails I sent within one conversation. I've paraphrased the council response because I'm not sure it's ok to post it at all.
Still, the system doesn't give a toss if you kill yourself.
Take Jennyfer Spencer; a martyr to housing. Yesterday I asked the shadow housing minister to take up her case on the Guardian Housing Network discussion and gave him the article link. Will he? Look out for it.
As for me, I might send someone this run of emails, just in case you know, just in case.
In the meantime, suicide is very much in the news at the moment, with Clarkson calling victims Jonny Suicide and selfish for hurling themselves infront of an oncoming train. So um, I guess this is quite topical. Oh stigs, we're so on trend...
2nd December
Subject: Is it true...?
Dear [Allocations],
I hope you are well. You might be quite surprised to get an email from me but you are the best person who can clarify something I was told this morning.
A friend of mine who has been harrassed in her home, been given extra points and is bidding now from [England's Hostel] told me she'd been told it was important to bid or we got penalised.
Is that true?
I know the waiting list is long and the coalition want council's to shorten it but is one way to reduce it, to penalise people who do not bid on the homeconnections site?
I do not bid.
I cannot bid.
I've tried but I go into a suicide default position where I want to kill myself.
It's very hard to live in a dark dark place like that so I try to avoid it, and it's best avoided by not bidding.
I don't have enough points.
As you know, when I was in desperate need I was unsuccessful. I have no chance now and the knowledge of three evictions. So I cannot bid and I cannot avert another eviction and now I discover I will penalised because of that. [Ex homeless household support worker] knows all this because I told him.
I actually signed on to ESA two weeks ago following another breakdown. I wouldn't mind having another breakdown if I knew the home I was in was settled and my child was settled in his school because it might be the last one I have but I don't have that kind of security so I am likely to keep on having breakdowns, to keep on landing in my suicide default position where I want to kill myself but can't because I love my son and will not leave him.
Please tell me what the new rules are around housing. Please tell me what it means for my family that we do not/are unable to bid. I can't make my son start doing it. Make a nine year old feel that desperation and hopelessness? I can't.
We do love this flat. We have a room each and it's a great location for my son's school, friends, community we have lived in all his life.
It's expensive though. I've been paying last winter's electricity bill at £40 a week so I've not put the heating on yet even though it's cold.
I got a letter yesterday from the housing association saying I was £2000 in arrears which simply isn't true. It can't be true. I have not started work yet, I have been unsuccessul with all my applications. I'm aware I'm better off than those families in the private sector who have had their housing benefit capped. Same fears though.
If you could let me know about the housing rules and how they fit around my family - just the two of us in temporary accommodation - I would be really grateful.
If you are no longer the best person to speak to about housing allocation please let me know who is.
Thanks very much
Kind regards
Dear Ms [de Nim]
Thank you for your email. However, I believe you have been given incorrect information. There are no new rules around bidding and we do not have a system where people are penalised for not bidding.
Under our current allocations scheme, some points will be time-limited for a period of time i.e. three or six months say for harassment/DV and after that period has expired the points will be automatically removed from the application. This could be what your friend means. I presume that she is a council tenant placed temporarily at [England’s Hostel], because homeless applicants under the current scheme do not receive harassment priority.
We will be reviewing the allocations scheme next year and it is very possible that we will make a number of changes and consider penalties around those who are in a position to bid successfully but are not doing so. But there will be a number of issues that we want/need to take into consideration but will do so in consultation beforehand.
I hope I have been able to answer your query satisfactorily.
Regards
Thanks [Allocations] for your reply.
Yes, my friend is a council tenant. Why, if people such as myself have been accepted as homeless under the council's duty of care, why can't we have the same 'advantages' as council tenants. Not that harrassment is an advantage, far from it for anyone, but you know what I mean. I wish her luck of course, as I'm constantly wishing luck for myself and my son.
How will the council decide if someone is 'in a position to bid'? I might be seen to be in a position to do so but I'm not in a position to bid, I've explained why but I wouldn't trust the council to take that into account, for they didn't take into account letters from psychiatrists in the past saying how important a secure home was for me.
Can you let me know what the issues are that may be considered, particularly in light of penalties? It directly affects me and my son. In a year and a half our lease will be up. With the points I have currently I would not be successful bidding, not now, not then, particularly as you know I was not successful when in 'desperate need'.
It's all hopeless to be honest with you, really hopeless and I really don't know what to do about it anymore.
Thanks again for your reply. It's good to know I'm not being penalised yet
I hope we don't get penalised at all.
Kind regards
Dear Ms [de Nim]
Thank you for your email.
I don’t think anyone who has to move unwillingly from their home because of harassment/DV would say that harassment priority is an advantage. However, it is more difficult to move a council tenant who has an established tenancy than it is a homeless applicant, because we can always find alternative temporary accommodation immediately for homeless applicants than we can for council tenants.
In deciding whether someone would be in a successful position to bid, we would need to consider the size of home they require, the number of properties that have become available in the past year, the number of points they have, the average points that size property based on successful bids, whether the applicant had above average points and their bidding frequency.
The review of the scheme has not begun and so penalties aren’t being considered at the moment, but that is not to say that they would be entirely ruled out. It is something that might be considered. However, I really don’t want you to dwell on something that might not happen and has not been opened up for discussion at this particular time. The issue of penalties among other issues relating to the allocations scheme would be something to take into consideration as part of the consultation process of the review of the scheme.
Regards
Dear [Allocations],
Harrassment is no way an advantage, no way, that's why I put it in inverted commas. It's really sad it has come to that for my friend, who like you say, was a council tenant so harder for her family to move into another better permanent home. She actually should have been moved a long time ago so hopefully her time in [England's Hostel] will be short. The fact that it's very easy to move me is what has catastrophic effects on my mental health.
You are right also that I shouldn't dwell on something that hasn't happened but on your list, already, bidding frequency is considered. I have tried to do it while I've been here but I crash. I crash into a dark dark place. Every time. When I moved into [Papier Mache Towers] and started bidding after six months I was contemplating how I could kill myself when there was a powercut and I heard my son call out for me. It still shocks me today that if the window could open wider than a couple of inches, I wouldn't be here. I'd have left a three year old boy sitting at a table, possibly clambering out after me.
I've been bidding despite hating the process because I had to, I was losing my home and now I'm blocked. I can't physically do it and now I can't apply for jobs either. And worse of all, no-one can help me. I've had tons of therapy and still I here am, with a bidding frequency of zero, unable to do what I have to do, even though stability is what I crave for my son and myself.
Please let me know when the consultation starts. In the meantime I will try not to think of housing so if you could write a note by my number that due to mental health problems I am unable to bid for properties I would be very grateful. I don't want the lack of activity to be held against us should we be evicted again in a year's time. I don't think I can go through it again [Allocations]. Three times is already too much.
Kind regards
Sue
Out Of Office AutoReply: Is it true....?
Still, the system doesn't give a toss if you kill yourself.
Take Jennyfer Spencer; a martyr to housing. Yesterday I asked the shadow housing minister to take up her case on the Guardian Housing Network discussion and gave him the article link. Will he? Look out for it.
As for me, I might send someone this run of emails, just in case you know, just in case.
In the meantime, suicide is very much in the news at the moment, with Clarkson calling victims Jonny Suicide and selfish for hurling themselves infront of an oncoming train. So um, I guess this is quite topical. Oh stigs, we're so on trend...
2nd December
Subject: Is it true...?
Dear [Allocations],
I hope you are well. You might be quite surprised to get an email from me but you are the best person who can clarify something I was told this morning.
A friend of mine who has been harrassed in her home, been given extra points and is bidding now from [England's Hostel] told me she'd been told it was important to bid or we got penalised.
Is that true?
I know the waiting list is long and the coalition want council's to shorten it but is one way to reduce it, to penalise people who do not bid on the homeconnections site?
I do not bid.
I cannot bid.
I've tried but I go into a suicide default position where I want to kill myself.
It's very hard to live in a dark dark place like that so I try to avoid it, and it's best avoided by not bidding.
I don't have enough points.
As you know, when I was in desperate need I was unsuccessful. I have no chance now and the knowledge of three evictions. So I cannot bid and I cannot avert another eviction and now I discover I will penalised because of that. [Ex homeless household support worker] knows all this because I told him.
I actually signed on to ESA two weeks ago following another breakdown. I wouldn't mind having another breakdown if I knew the home I was in was settled and my child was settled in his school because it might be the last one I have but I don't have that kind of security so I am likely to keep on having breakdowns, to keep on landing in my suicide default position where I want to kill myself but can't because I love my son and will not leave him.
Please tell me what the new rules are around housing. Please tell me what it means for my family that we do not/are unable to bid. I can't make my son start doing it. Make a nine year old feel that desperation and hopelessness? I can't.
We do love this flat. We have a room each and it's a great location for my son's school, friends, community we have lived in all his life.
It's expensive though. I've been paying last winter's electricity bill at £40 a week so I've not put the heating on yet even though it's cold.
I got a letter yesterday from the housing association saying I was £2000 in arrears which simply isn't true. It can't be true. I have not started work yet, I have been unsuccessul with all my applications. I'm aware I'm better off than those families in the private sector who have had their housing benefit capped. Same fears though.
If you could let me know about the housing rules and how they fit around my family - just the two of us in temporary accommodation - I would be really grateful.
If you are no longer the best person to speak to about housing allocation please let me know who is.
Thanks very much
Kind regards
Dear Ms [de Nim]
Thank you for your email. However, I believe you have been given incorrect information. There are no new rules around bidding and we do not have a system where people are penalised for not bidding.
Under our current allocations scheme, some points will be time-limited for a period of time i.e. three or six months say for harassment/DV and after that period has expired the points will be automatically removed from the application. This could be what your friend means. I presume that she is a council tenant placed temporarily at [England’s Hostel], because homeless applicants under the current scheme do not receive harassment priority.
We will be reviewing the allocations scheme next year and it is very possible that we will make a number of changes and consider penalties around those who are in a position to bid successfully but are not doing so. But there will be a number of issues that we want/need to take into consideration but will do so in consultation beforehand.
I hope I have been able to answer your query satisfactorily.
Regards
Thanks [Allocations] for your reply.
Yes, my friend is a council tenant. Why, if people such as myself have been accepted as homeless under the council's duty of care, why can't we have the same 'advantages' as council tenants. Not that harrassment is an advantage, far from it for anyone, but you know what I mean. I wish her luck of course, as I'm constantly wishing luck for myself and my son.
How will the council decide if someone is 'in a position to bid'? I might be seen to be in a position to do so but I'm not in a position to bid, I've explained why but I wouldn't trust the council to take that into account, for they didn't take into account letters from psychiatrists in the past saying how important a secure home was for me.
Can you let me know what the issues are that may be considered, particularly in light of penalties? It directly affects me and my son. In a year and a half our lease will be up. With the points I have currently I would not be successful bidding, not now, not then, particularly as you know I was not successful when in 'desperate need'.
It's all hopeless to be honest with you, really hopeless and I really don't know what to do about it anymore.
Thanks again for your reply. It's good to know I'm not being penalised yet
I hope we don't get penalised at all.
Kind regards
Dear Ms [de Nim]
Thank you for your email.
I don’t think anyone who has to move unwillingly from their home because of harassment/DV would say that harassment priority is an advantage. However, it is more difficult to move a council tenant who has an established tenancy than it is a homeless applicant, because we can always find alternative temporary accommodation immediately for homeless applicants than we can for council tenants.
In deciding whether someone would be in a successful position to bid, we would need to consider the size of home they require, the number of properties that have become available in the past year, the number of points they have, the average points that size property based on successful bids, whether the applicant had above average points and their bidding frequency.
The review of the scheme has not begun and so penalties aren’t being considered at the moment, but that is not to say that they would be entirely ruled out. It is something that might be considered. However, I really don’t want you to dwell on something that might not happen and has not been opened up for discussion at this particular time. The issue of penalties among other issues relating to the allocations scheme would be something to take into consideration as part of the consultation process of the review of the scheme.
Regards
Dear [Allocations],
Harrassment is no way an advantage, no way, that's why I put it in inverted commas. It's really sad it has come to that for my friend, who like you say, was a council tenant so harder for her family to move into another better permanent home. She actually should have been moved a long time ago so hopefully her time in [England's Hostel] will be short. The fact that it's very easy to move me is what has catastrophic effects on my mental health.
You are right also that I shouldn't dwell on something that hasn't happened but on your list, already, bidding frequency is considered. I have tried to do it while I've been here but I crash. I crash into a dark dark place. Every time. When I moved into [Papier Mache Towers] and started bidding after six months I was contemplating how I could kill myself when there was a powercut and I heard my son call out for me. It still shocks me today that if the window could open wider than a couple of inches, I wouldn't be here. I'd have left a three year old boy sitting at a table, possibly clambering out after me.
I've been bidding despite hating the process because I had to, I was losing my home and now I'm blocked. I can't physically do it and now I can't apply for jobs either. And worse of all, no-one can help me. I've had tons of therapy and still I here am, with a bidding frequency of zero, unable to do what I have to do, even though stability is what I crave for my son and myself.
Please let me know when the consultation starts. In the meantime I will try not to think of housing so if you could write a note by my number that due to mental health problems I am unable to bid for properties I would be very grateful. I don't want the lack of activity to be held against us should we be evicted again in a year's time. I don't think I can go through it again [Allocations]. Three times is already too much.
Kind regards
Sue
Out Of Office AutoReply: Is it true....?
Wednesday, 6 July 2011
Is there any point in bidding tomorrow?
The thought of housing can make one so glum. Why I continue to write about it I'm still trying to figure out because what I contribute to the debate in newspapers and stuff, has very little impact.
Anyway, enough about that, I guess I'm just introducing a post I was reluctant to write this morning but figure I'll write it anyway because I know that people feel as I do, people who are in my situation.
It's bidding day tomorrow. Do I start bidding again?
There, that question to myself is enough to get me spinning into a direct downward spiral of depression of which there is a difficult return to a semblance of happiness. When this happens, I, like other depressed people, cut myself off so I don't have to pretend. Even now, better than I was, I still can't carry a conversation for very long unless I'm drunk.
Is there any point to my bidding? I'm not in "pressing need" now, as I sit a comfortable distance from eviction in my temporary accommodation.
They say those in "pressing need" get priority but you know now that's not true and I have to remember, one day, when I'm not in any kind of need, that it's not true.
For those with children they're are prioritised with a roof over their heads, but only a temporary one. For those without children, or disabilities, or a 100th birthday coming up, they don't make the priority list at all; not even for a patch of pavement in Westminster.
My housing support worker said that he would do my bidding for me but he hasn't been doing it. I checked. I haven't heard from him in so long I'm wondering if he's fallen off the face of the earth. Next week though my son's social worker has called a meeting at the school; to have my son taken off the Child in Need register. I wonder if support worker will be there?
Maybe I should bid and just not tell you about it because telling you about it depresses me more than the act of doing it. No, that's not true, the act of doing it is so depressing I have to offload my poisonous emotion somewhere.
More and more people are presenting themselves as homeless. The competition for the few properties there are is so intense.
I've got to do it; I've got to bid. I've got to show willing, desire even in the face of hopelessness.
I'd rather slit my wrists to be honest which is why I'll post about something else, something different after this; move my mind away from where my mind is resting - in the abyss.
At least warnings of impending doom are getting louder now. We just need those at the top not to close their ears to what they choose not to see.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2011/jul/06/ombudsman-warning-to-council-on-homelessness?commentpage=last#end-of-comments
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Anyway, enough about that, I guess I'm just introducing a post I was reluctant to write this morning but figure I'll write it anyway because I know that people feel as I do, people who are in my situation.
It's bidding day tomorrow. Do I start bidding again?
There, that question to myself is enough to get me spinning into a direct downward spiral of depression of which there is a difficult return to a semblance of happiness. When this happens, I, like other depressed people, cut myself off so I don't have to pretend. Even now, better than I was, I still can't carry a conversation for very long unless I'm drunk.
Is there any point to my bidding? I'm not in "pressing need" now, as I sit a comfortable distance from eviction in my temporary accommodation.
They say those in "pressing need" get priority but you know now that's not true and I have to remember, one day, when I'm not in any kind of need, that it's not true.
For those with children they're are prioritised with a roof over their heads, but only a temporary one. For those without children, or disabilities, or a 100th birthday coming up, they don't make the priority list at all; not even for a patch of pavement in Westminster.
My housing support worker said that he would do my bidding for me but he hasn't been doing it. I checked. I haven't heard from him in so long I'm wondering if he's fallen off the face of the earth. Next week though my son's social worker has called a meeting at the school; to have my son taken off the Child in Need register. I wonder if support worker will be there?
Maybe I should bid and just not tell you about it because telling you about it depresses me more than the act of doing it. No, that's not true, the act of doing it is so depressing I have to offload my poisonous emotion somewhere.
More and more people are presenting themselves as homeless. The competition for the few properties there are is so intense.
I've got to do it; I've got to bid. I've got to show willing, desire even in the face of hopelessness.
I'd rather slit my wrists to be honest which is why I'll post about something else, something different after this; move my mind away from where my mind is resting - in the abyss.
At least warnings of impending doom are getting louder now. We just need those at the top not to close their ears to what they choose not to see.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/patrick-butler-cuts-blog/2011/jul/06/ombudsman-warning-to-council-on-homelessness?commentpage=last#end-of-comments
Breathe
Breathe
Breathe
Monday, 28 March 2011
Support worker does my bidding
I should be grateful. My support worker texted me on Friday to say he'd bid on 3 properties for me.
I remember a Bengali mum in a hostel who helped me with my dissertation; she told me her support worker did the bidding for her family. I figured it was because she couldn't speak English, so couldn't understand the system. She'd been waiting two years and at the time I just couldn't believe she hadn't viewed anything, what with all that support.
Crikey, what does it mean that I need that level of support now? What does it mean that I can no longer do my own bidding? What have I become?
I couldn't tell you this good news on Friday as it would put a downer on my whole weekend, and I didn't want that. I must forget that he's doing this for me otherwise every week I'll be wondering if I'm moving again and.. fuck it's so hard to feel settled when you're in temporary accommodation...
This is our text conversation, I'm sure he won't mind, hope he won't mind, am I beyond caring today such is my head mind?...
SW: I bid for 3 flats (support worker)
Me: Where? I should say
thanks so er, yes,
thanks. I hope what
i'm offered some day
is near here & (my son's)
education. You know,
i hate to turn things
down (sad face emicon) cheers
SW:I just bid for
everything.It doesn't
matter. You can turn
down as many as you
like
Me: Last time i turned
one down i slipped
way down the list,
hence losing that last
eviction. I want to
believe you but can't.
Not your fault.
I remember a Bengali mum in a hostel who helped me with my dissertation; she told me her support worker did the bidding for her family. I figured it was because she couldn't speak English, so couldn't understand the system. She'd been waiting two years and at the time I just couldn't believe she hadn't viewed anything, what with all that support.
Crikey, what does it mean that I need that level of support now? What does it mean that I can no longer do my own bidding? What have I become?
I couldn't tell you this good news on Friday as it would put a downer on my whole weekend, and I didn't want that. I must forget that he's doing this for me otherwise every week I'll be wondering if I'm moving again and.. fuck it's so hard to feel settled when you're in temporary accommodation...
This is our text conversation, I'm sure he won't mind, hope he won't mind, am I beyond caring today such is my head mind?...
SW: I bid for 3 flats (support worker)
Me: Where? I should say
thanks so er, yes,
thanks. I hope what
i'm offered some day
is near here & (my son's)
education. You know,
i hate to turn things
down (sad face emicon) cheers
SW:I just bid for
everything.It doesn't
matter. You can turn
down as many as you
like
Me: Last time i turned
one down i slipped
way down the list,
hence losing that last
eviction. I want to
believe you but can't.
Not your fault.
Friday, 25 March 2011
Doing a Ken Clarke
I didn't watch the Budget on Wednesday but I saw the footage and also media pics of Ken Clarke having a snooze during Osborne's address.
Last night I fell asleep watching Question Time.
Well. I hardly blame myself, or Ken really. Don't we know the Tory line is to help the rich get richer and poor get poorer? Ken's heard it all before and I'm simply exhausted by my own fury.
It's happened alot since I moved to the Attic Flat following the trauma of eviction. I fall asleep at the beginning of Question Time and wake up at the end of This Week. Every week. What does that mean?! (Thank f*^% it's Friday?!)
It's almost like I can't deal with our politics anymore despite my desire to.
I might comment on housing next week yeah?
Oh Ok, help for first time buyers all very well but what about help for those who don't have the readdies?
At the Housing Strategy meeting last week, Stategy (formerly Needs) asked me if I'd thought about Shared Ownership.
"I don't have a job," I said and she sighed "oh".
"I'm also not convinced what I think about it," I continued. "I'm worried I'd end up paying out more. I'd rather rent all or own all but not half and half."
She didn't say anything to that.
But she did say I should get my son to bid for me when I said I found the bidding for a flat process too depressing.
I said "I wish but the social services would have something to say about that."
How we giggle at what's not funny!
I wasn't the one laughing.
March March March March March March March March
Channel anger in constructive positive ways I say
Now I may Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzen
Close my eyes
Imagine
Last night I fell asleep watching Question Time.
Well. I hardly blame myself, or Ken really. Don't we know the Tory line is to help the rich get richer and poor get poorer? Ken's heard it all before and I'm simply exhausted by my own fury.
It's happened alot since I moved to the Attic Flat following the trauma of eviction. I fall asleep at the beginning of Question Time and wake up at the end of This Week. Every week. What does that mean?! (Thank f*^% it's Friday?!)
It's almost like I can't deal with our politics anymore despite my desire to.
I might comment on housing next week yeah?
Oh Ok, help for first time buyers all very well but what about help for those who don't have the readdies?
At the Housing Strategy meeting last week, Stategy (formerly Needs) asked me if I'd thought about Shared Ownership.
"I don't have a job," I said and she sighed "oh".
"I'm also not convinced what I think about it," I continued. "I'm worried I'd end up paying out more. I'd rather rent all or own all but not half and half."
She didn't say anything to that.
But she did say I should get my son to bid for me when I said I found the bidding for a flat process too depressing.
I said "I wish but the social services would have something to say about that."
How we giggle at what's not funny!
I wasn't the one laughing.
March March March March March March March March
Channel anger in constructive positive ways I say
Now I may Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzen
Close my eyes
Imagine
Monday, 21 March 2011
Secure lettings made 2010/11
1,221 lettings for council flats have been made in 2010/11, I was told in a workshop about the council's Allocation Scheme. My son and I weren't one of them.
346 homes were let to people who have lived in the borough for two years or more. My son and I weren't one of these.
768 homes were let to those who lived in Camden for 10 or more. Next year my son and I will qualify for those extra points.
7 households who didn't live in Camden for two or more years were housed. Why did they go before me and my son?
This is how bad things are:
The number on the left is the number of properties let against the number who bid for them - the number on the right.
Studio: 187 let/7620 bidded
1 bed: 487 let/4914
2 bed: 280 let/5242
3 bed: 139/2240
4 bed: 21/1067
5 bed: 1/439
6 bed: 268
In terms of priority, we were told that the points based system awards points for different housing needs. "The more pressing the need," said Allocations. "the more points they'll have."
I wanted to shout: "NOT TRUE"
but it's rude to interrupt
So I waited until the end and said softly
"You know. It's not true"
346 homes were let to people who have lived in the borough for two years or more. My son and I weren't one of these.
768 homes were let to those who lived in Camden for 10 or more. Next year my son and I will qualify for those extra points.
7 households who didn't live in Camden for two or more years were housed. Why did they go before me and my son?
This is how bad things are:
The number on the left is the number of properties let against the number who bid for them - the number on the right.
Studio: 187 let/7620 bidded
1 bed: 487 let/4914
2 bed: 280 let/5242
3 bed: 139/2240
4 bed: 21/1067
5 bed: 1/439
6 bed: 268
In terms of priority, we were told that the points based system awards points for different housing needs. "The more pressing the need," said Allocations. "the more points they'll have."
I wanted to shout: "NOT TRUE"
but it's rude to interrupt
So I waited until the end and said softly
"You know. It's not true"
Tuesday, 1 March 2011
Reading through impending doom
I have started reading a book called The Diamond In Your Pocket by Gangaji.
My mother bought it for me for christmas, at my request.
It's a spiritual book.
I wanted to tell you about the other books I read but I can't for some reason but if you get the chance:
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver is just superb. Brilliant. Funny though the subject matter isn't!
The Glass Room by Simon Mawler is great too. They're different in style the two of them but they are both historical - the war, communism, persecution of different sorts and so relevant to today in many many ways.
I didn't tell you did I? I bid on two properties last week.
I was 177/482 for the maisonette on a road near here
I was 114/341 for another flat on another road near here
Well I did bid, and I'm not doing it again.
I did it because I saw the maisonette advertised in the local paper and thought that it looked ok.
I'm not going to bid again for a while because I don't like the 'surprises' every week because there aren't any.
Surprises.
We all have bad days don't we?
My friend Hannah who's in the same situation as me with her husband and four kids got their first repossession notice from the housing association last week.
They were told their landlord's been asked to drop the rent and if the landlord doesn't, then Hannah and her family are out on their ear.
It's the first stage of the eviction process, as you know if you know me.
The housing association's not dropping its admin charges is it?
Hannah's rent is £402 a week and the housing allowance cut off for a 3 bed is apparently £400. Evicted for £2? It can't happen.
She asked me if I'd got a repossession notice too.
"When I moved in to my new place," I told her.
I'm going to stop writing and read my book.
The truth is, I really want to cry.
My mother bought it for me for christmas, at my request.
It's a spiritual book.
I wanted to tell you about the other books I read but I can't for some reason but if you get the chance:
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver is just superb. Brilliant. Funny though the subject matter isn't!
The Glass Room by Simon Mawler is great too. They're different in style the two of them but they are both historical - the war, communism, persecution of different sorts and so relevant to today in many many ways.
I didn't tell you did I? I bid on two properties last week.
I was 177/482 for the maisonette on a road near here
I was 114/341 for another flat on another road near here
Well I did bid, and I'm not doing it again.
I did it because I saw the maisonette advertised in the local paper and thought that it looked ok.
I'm not going to bid again for a while because I don't like the 'surprises' every week because there aren't any.
Surprises.
We all have bad days don't we?
My friend Hannah who's in the same situation as me with her husband and four kids got their first repossession notice from the housing association last week.
They were told their landlord's been asked to drop the rent and if the landlord doesn't, then Hannah and her family are out on their ear.
It's the first stage of the eviction process, as you know if you know me.
The housing association's not dropping its admin charges is it?
Hannah's rent is £402 a week and the housing allowance cut off for a 3 bed is apparently £400. Evicted for £2? It can't happen.
She asked me if I'd got a repossession notice too.
"When I moved in to my new place," I told her.
I'm going to stop writing and read my book.
The truth is, I really want to cry.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Benefits family in £1.2 million council house
The headlines in the Sun and the Evening Standard actually shouted 'My Big Fat Gypsy Council House' in one, and 'Gipsy family of 12 in £1.2m council house' in other.
What's the story?
I always blog about housing stuff when I'm not sure.....
A gypsy family have been given a council house and to all intents and purposes are a right nuisance to their neighbours in what is described as "an upmarket street". (Posh street to you and me, like where I lived in the church property.) They hurl beer cans and broken glass and used toilet roll in neighbours gardens and consequently have been complained about.
The headlines though.. £1.2 million council flat...
The Sun believes "the couple are secure tenants in their current home, meaning they have it for life, with the option of right to buy - and sell.
That was the Tory idea!!
What are the papers trying to enflame in readers? That gypsies are antisocial folk or that antisocial folk are given council properties in decent areas? Or not even anti-social folk, benefit families, God forbid...
You know from me reader, that council street properties are gold dust these days, that all I had to bid on, that all I have to bid on, are flats on large estates.
Where should families like this gypsy family, or my family, go?
If we lived in ghettos would that make people happier?
It's not pleasant that people should live next to "Hell nieghbours", I've been lucky in recent years. In the church property on Posh Street I was next door to a lovely family with five kids who bought their council flat. In Papier Mache Towers, I had nice neighbours too. I've got nice neighbours here. The guy downstairs came up a couple of weekends ago asking if he could borrow my internet connection and we ended up chatting for two hours.
I wonder what will happen to this gypsy family. Haringey council, quotes the Standard, "issued a final warning to the family last week and said legal action will be taken if the anti-social behaviour doesn't stop immediately. We will have no hesitation to evict the family immediately if the problems persist."
Wealthy neighbours on the street have formed a nieghbourhood watch "to keep tabs on them" (Sun) Not invited them round for a cuppa then....
Where will the family go, or be placed? We are not a country that will see children out on the street, are we?
Coincidentally this story came out just as Asbo's are replaced with 'criminal behaviour orders'. I'm not sure what I think about that, or what the success of criminalising children will be, but hey ho we'll see.
One thing is for sure, dumping all 'anti-social' people together on estates is not the answer to problems in our society.
Shame some people don't realise how lucky they are or are unable, for whatever reason, to make best use of the opportunities they're given.
What's the story?
I always blog about housing stuff when I'm not sure.....
A gypsy family have been given a council house and to all intents and purposes are a right nuisance to their neighbours in what is described as "an upmarket street". (Posh street to you and me, like where I lived in the church property.) They hurl beer cans and broken glass and used toilet roll in neighbours gardens and consequently have been complained about.
The headlines though.. £1.2 million council flat...
The Sun believes "the couple are secure tenants in their current home, meaning they have it for life, with the option of right to buy - and sell.
That was the Tory idea!!
What are the papers trying to enflame in readers? That gypsies are antisocial folk or that antisocial folk are given council properties in decent areas? Or not even anti-social folk, benefit families, God forbid...
You know from me reader, that council street properties are gold dust these days, that all I had to bid on, that all I have to bid on, are flats on large estates.
Where should families like this gypsy family, or my family, go?
If we lived in ghettos would that make people happier?
It's not pleasant that people should live next to "Hell nieghbours", I've been lucky in recent years. In the church property on Posh Street I was next door to a lovely family with five kids who bought their council flat. In Papier Mache Towers, I had nice neighbours too. I've got nice neighbours here. The guy downstairs came up a couple of weekends ago asking if he could borrow my internet connection and we ended up chatting for two hours.
I wonder what will happen to this gypsy family. Haringey council, quotes the Standard, "issued a final warning to the family last week and said legal action will be taken if the anti-social behaviour doesn't stop immediately. We will have no hesitation to evict the family immediately if the problems persist."
Wealthy neighbours on the street have formed a nieghbourhood watch "to keep tabs on them" (Sun) Not invited them round for a cuppa then....
Where will the family go, or be placed? We are not a country that will see children out on the street, are we?
Coincidentally this story came out just as Asbo's are replaced with 'criminal behaviour orders'. I'm not sure what I think about that, or what the success of criminalising children will be, but hey ho we'll see.
One thing is for sure, dumping all 'anti-social' people together on estates is not the answer to problems in our society.
Shame some people don't realise how lucky they are or are unable, for whatever reason, to make best use of the opportunities they're given.
Thursday, 11 November 2010
The last time for a long time..I'm guessing
Bidding Day!!
The exclamation because I'm not going to be doing it again for a while, a long while I hope. I'm going to give myself a break from it for my sanity's sake.
What do we have this week?
Two for me and my boy.
The first I bid on was a double/single flat, 10th floor of a tower block on a large estate. Shower only (a smile from me; I don't know of any council flat that has an ensuite shower and a separate bathroom like I'm going to have in the temporary they found me!) There's full central heating, a communal garden and rent is set at £117 a week.
The second was the ground floor double/single flat on a small estate, with a front garden. 1 internal, 1 external step. "Priority will be given to applicants assessed as having a medical need for ground floor, the to applicants with children under 5 living above the 2nd floor and or with overcrowding points." Rent is set at £83 a week.
I'd have liked this one though not the first one. You see, with this bidding lark, you have to bid for what 'ideally' you don't want. You have to try not to hope for what you do, especially if you have a child over 5, are living above the 2nd floor and the policies for your situation don't allow you overcrowding points.
Maybe you can tell I'm feeling grateful today. With good reason to, fecking hell, with good reason to.
Juggling mum and Gardening mum in the playground were really pleased we'd got somewhere.
"You can go and get a job now," said Juggling. "No more volunteering, go out and get paid work."
"Oh, not so easy now," I smiled (smiled?) "Did you read the Observer on Sunday?"
Ah yes Juggler, why should a company or a charity pay me when you are there to pay them and pay me? And on top of that my sweet, still pay my housing benefit as well.
She's got a point though, I'd like paid work, but whereas she thinks I should take any old shit, money is money, Gardening mum's more in tune with me, that I should somehow find something more in tune to my skills and knowledge base.
I don't know what I'm going to do but I'm going to try not to worry about it. I just want to move into my new place and take it all from there.
Flip, hallellujah, a rest from bidding. Hope I don't get suicidal thoughts again when I restart the depressing process.
Stop thinking about that
Yes, thanks stiggers, I'll stop thinking about that.
The exclamation because I'm not going to be doing it again for a while, a long while I hope. I'm going to give myself a break from it for my sanity's sake.
What do we have this week?
Two for me and my boy.
The first I bid on was a double/single flat, 10th floor of a tower block on a large estate. Shower only (a smile from me; I don't know of any council flat that has an ensuite shower and a separate bathroom like I'm going to have in the temporary they found me!) There's full central heating, a communal garden and rent is set at £117 a week.
The second was the ground floor double/single flat on a small estate, with a front garden. 1 internal, 1 external step. "Priority will be given to applicants assessed as having a medical need for ground floor, the to applicants with children under 5 living above the 2nd floor and or with overcrowding points." Rent is set at £83 a week.
I'd have liked this one though not the first one. You see, with this bidding lark, you have to bid for what 'ideally' you don't want. You have to try not to hope for what you do, especially if you have a child over 5, are living above the 2nd floor and the policies for your situation don't allow you overcrowding points.
Maybe you can tell I'm feeling grateful today. With good reason to, fecking hell, with good reason to.
Juggling mum and Gardening mum in the playground were really pleased we'd got somewhere.
"You can go and get a job now," said Juggling. "No more volunteering, go out and get paid work."
"Oh, not so easy now," I smiled (smiled?) "Did you read the Observer on Sunday?"
Ah yes Juggler, why should a company or a charity pay me when you are there to pay them and pay me? And on top of that my sweet, still pay my housing benefit as well.
She's got a point though, I'd like paid work, but whereas she thinks I should take any old shit, money is money, Gardening mum's more in tune with me, that I should somehow find something more in tune to my skills and knowledge base.
I don't know what I'm going to do but I'm going to try not to worry about it. I just want to move into my new place and take it all from there.
Flip, hallellujah, a rest from bidding. Hope I don't get suicidal thoughts again when I restart the depressing process.
Stop thinking about that
Yes, thanks stiggers, I'll stop thinking about that.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Credit where credit's due
My response to an email Allocations sent me on Friday:
Dear [Allocations],
Yes, I have accepted the move to [Attic Flat]. If I hadn't my son and I would have been sent to [HRM Hostel] and I was so tired of being threatened with a move to a hostel. I can't help feeling the policies discriminated me and my son, especially as I've seen numerous families get housed with many more points than us who have waited much less time.
I'd like your assurance really, that never ever again do my son and I go through this. His third eviction is enough I think for one childhood. I personally do not deal with it very well. Earlier today for example, following the stresses of the past few months, I was unable to start packing in anticipation of the move but instead lay shivering fully clothed under a blanket all afternoon before picking him up from school. Relief, relief that it's all over for now. I also need assurances my points won't be reduced as they were in 2005. I hope not, I have so few as it is.
We are very, very lucky with the flat we've been given and I'm grateful to the council and [the Housing Association] for that. There's even space for our bikes and you know how much that means to me!
I did ask how much the rent was but [Manager] and [Housing Officer] didn't know. Either way, I have to find work and I have to keep bidding. I was hoping I'd never have to do the latter again. I may leave it a while before I start again, I find it very hard.
Thanks for leaving yourself available to me should I need to contact you again. I hope the tenancy goes well with [the Housing Association] this time round (I became quite reliant on the property owner for repairs so quite a blow when she wouldn't let us stay here)
Thanks again for the flat. It took my son 10 minutes to cycle to school this morning and should we ever need to walk there, it's not far. I really can't thank you enough for that.
Kind regards
Sue de Nim
Dear [Allocations],
Yes, I have accepted the move to [Attic Flat]. If I hadn't my son and I would have been sent to [HRM Hostel] and I was so tired of being threatened with a move to a hostel. I can't help feeling the policies discriminated me and my son, especially as I've seen numerous families get housed with many more points than us who have waited much less time.
I'd like your assurance really, that never ever again do my son and I go through this. His third eviction is enough I think for one childhood. I personally do not deal with it very well. Earlier today for example, following the stresses of the past few months, I was unable to start packing in anticipation of the move but instead lay shivering fully clothed under a blanket all afternoon before picking him up from school. Relief, relief that it's all over for now. I also need assurances my points won't be reduced as they were in 2005. I hope not, I have so few as it is.
We are very, very lucky with the flat we've been given and I'm grateful to the council and [the Housing Association] for that. There's even space for our bikes and you know how much that means to me!
I did ask how much the rent was but [Manager] and [Housing Officer] didn't know. Either way, I have to find work and I have to keep bidding. I was hoping I'd never have to do the latter again. I may leave it a while before I start again, I find it very hard.
Thanks for leaving yourself available to me should I need to contact you again. I hope the tenancy goes well with [the Housing Association] this time round (I became quite reliant on the property owner for repairs so quite a blow when she wouldn't let us stay here)
Thanks again for the flat. It took my son 10 minutes to cycle to school this morning and should we ever need to walk there, it's not far. I really can't thank you enough for that.
Kind regards
Sue de Nim
Friday, 5 November 2010
When do I move in?
By the grace of God, I've got Annie and Issy coming over tomorrow to help me pack.
By the luck of being statutorily homeless, the council are going to get a removal van to transfer my stuff. I didn't know how I was going to do that.
A woman from the temporary allocations team phoned and told me the moving in date is for a week on Monday.
I told her that when I've moved, I'm going to stop bidding for a while.
She told me no, I should keep bidding, I never know when I might get lucky and get something permanent.
Thursdays are the most depressing days of the week for me, I told her. I hate bidding. I've done it for so long, it's so hopeless and weekly I'm reminded of that. I try and move on from housing and Thursdays and bidding just drag me back.
You know, when it comes to housing, it's stiggers who keeps me going
Maybe I will bid, maybe I won't
It's up to you stiggers. Me, I've got to lie down
you've got to let me
lie down
By the luck of being statutorily homeless, the council are going to get a removal van to transfer my stuff. I didn't know how I was going to do that.
A woman from the temporary allocations team phoned and told me the moving in date is for a week on Monday.
I told her that when I've moved, I'm going to stop bidding for a while.
She told me no, I should keep bidding, I never know when I might get lucky and get something permanent.
Thursdays are the most depressing days of the week for me, I told her. I hate bidding. I've done it for so long, it's so hopeless and weekly I'm reminded of that. I try and move on from housing and Thursdays and bidding just drag me back.
You know, when it comes to housing, it's stiggers who keeps me going
Maybe I will bid, maybe I won't
It's up to you stiggers. Me, I've got to lie down
you've got to let me
lie down
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Dilemma of two bed I've been offered
The two bedroom flat in a great location is not the best the council can offer me
but the best I can accept
The best the council could have offered me is the two bed I bid on a couple of weeks ago, or the one the week before that, or the ones every week before those
Although I suspect that some members of society would rather see me and my child placed in a hostel, it is worth knowing that these rooms cost £400 a week.
Build build build, cap landlord's rent
but the best I can accept
The best the council could have offered me is the two bed I bid on a couple of weeks ago, or the one the week before that, or the ones every week before those
Although I suspect that some members of society would rather see me and my child placed in a hostel, it is worth knowing that these rooms cost £400 a week.
Build build build, cap landlord's rent
What society thinks of me
Some of the comments from the article I wrote (I didn't mention my "sense of entitlement" by the way...):
Stigmum's asking that I and people like me be forced to pay for the secure home for her child and that if we don't want to, she demands that our homes and our possessions be taken away by force and that we be incarcerated.
I've been boggling at this all day. I just don't understand where she gets her sense of entitlement.
Try not paying the taxes that Stigmum wants to subsidise her nice new home.
This is what happens when you make yourself so helpless you're completely reliant on the government for everything. A bit of self-reliance goes a long way. Working people have enough trouble paying their own mortgage and rent, they can't be expected to pay other people's. The sense of entitlement is breathtaking.
Btw, housing benefit is an abomination, increasing rents and property prices for the benefit of landlords, at the expense of working people.
it is true there is a dearth of social housing left available in central london but those who qualify turn it down for the stupidest reasons " there is not a place to park my bicycle" i must have sky tv etc etc.. the ones who went in private rented were given town houses, waterside apartmants etc, way out of the reach of working folk.. the result was, and i am afraid to agree with the daily mail, but benefits babes could get rent free housing in central london well out of the reach of working familes. the true victims of the housing crisis are those having to pay their own rent because they are working. free luxury accommadation in central london is readily available for homeless familes. this has to change. working people are penalised in favour of people like Stigmum who have several options presented to them by the state.
Fortunately a few people understood:
Mr Cameron et al. no idea about how the world works - how does he expect to build the Big Society when people like Stigmum have no security in their homes and the cannot be certain if they will be living in the same area in 6 months time? or perhaps those living in rented accommodation don't have anything to contribute!
At least give her somewhere decent to rent.
The trouble is that renting here is a nightmare: you can be evicted on the whim of a landlord within six months (fortunately most courts take a dim view of evictions so long as the tenant is not anti-social and has been paying the rent on time).
In Europe, there is greater security for the tenant.
The bottom line is that apart from defence and financial services, this country doesn`t have much of an income (please add other examples if I`ve missed anything - which I probably have!) The housing bubble is one fo the things that is an indicator of the financial health of the UK - not good.
Until a government takes the bull by the horns and tries to remedy housing problems, this situation will go on and on and on. Whatever the ins and outs are nobody should be facing homelessness.
Unless you have really hit rockbottom you will never have sympathy with the people who decline first into the private rented market, (don't even think about it, if you get benefits they soon chase you out into the worst areas where nobody with any sense would want to live in the worst part of social housing). I don't know where the goverment gets the information from that all who are on benefits can cope.The benefits system allows you too survive, nothing more.
Stigmum's asking that I and people like me be forced to pay for the secure home for her child and that if we don't want to, she demands that our homes and our possessions be taken away by force and that we be incarcerated.
I've been boggling at this all day. I just don't understand where she gets her sense of entitlement.
Try not paying the taxes that Stigmum wants to subsidise her nice new home.
This is what happens when you make yourself so helpless you're completely reliant on the government for everything. A bit of self-reliance goes a long way. Working people have enough trouble paying their own mortgage and rent, they can't be expected to pay other people's. The sense of entitlement is breathtaking.
Btw, housing benefit is an abomination, increasing rents and property prices for the benefit of landlords, at the expense of working people.
it is true there is a dearth of social housing left available in central london but those who qualify turn it down for the stupidest reasons " there is not a place to park my bicycle" i must have sky tv etc etc.. the ones who went in private rented were given town houses, waterside apartmants etc, way out of the reach of working folk.. the result was, and i am afraid to agree with the daily mail, but benefits babes could get rent free housing in central london well out of the reach of working familes. the true victims of the housing crisis are those having to pay their own rent because they are working. free luxury accommadation in central london is readily available for homeless familes. this has to change. working people are penalised in favour of people like Stigmum who have several options presented to them by the state.
Fortunately a few people understood:
Mr Cameron et al. no idea about how the world works - how does he expect to build the Big Society when people like Stigmum have no security in their homes and the cannot be certain if they will be living in the same area in 6 months time? or perhaps those living in rented accommodation don't have anything to contribute!
At least give her somewhere decent to rent.
The trouble is that renting here is a nightmare: you can be evicted on the whim of a landlord within six months (fortunately most courts take a dim view of evictions so long as the tenant is not anti-social and has been paying the rent on time).
In Europe, there is greater security for the tenant.
The bottom line is that apart from defence and financial services, this country doesn`t have much of an income (please add other examples if I`ve missed anything - which I probably have!) The housing bubble is one fo the things that is an indicator of the financial health of the UK - not good.
Until a government takes the bull by the horns and tries to remedy housing problems, this situation will go on and on and on. Whatever the ins and outs are nobody should be facing homelessness.
Unless you have really hit rockbottom you will never have sympathy with the people who decline first into the private rented market, (don't even think about it, if you get benefits they soon chase you out into the worst areas where nobody with any sense would want to live in the worst part of social housing). I don't know where the goverment gets the information from that all who are on benefits can cope.The benefits system allows you too survive, nothing more.
"Keep bidding" forever....
"It's not an ultimatum," new support worker told me yesterday. "You can keep bidding."
Ok, I just have done, a two bed, £110 a week.
If I turn down the temporary flat I've been offered will I get this flat?
Of course I won't.
How do I know?
Because I've been bidding weekly for at least the two years you have known me and I've got jack shit.
Even a "pressing need" can't get me a council flat. "Pressing need" is how the council identified to me those who have been housed and have waited a mere six months.
So the temporary offer is an ultimatum, the alternative is a hostel. Would I have a "pressing need" from there? Sure I would, but I would be moved to alternative temporary or the private sector. That is what has happened to some I have met.
If my family is going to be bounced around through this system the best I can hope for is somewhere my child has his own room.
I cannot risk turning down the flat I have been offered, not even on the grounds of "expensive and insecure"
If in the future I still want "affordable and secure" I will have to "keep bidding" for it. If I want to avoid another eviction I have to "keep bidding" for it.
Twenty three months I have taken you on this journey to eviction. I really hoped I could give you a happy and hopeful ending. No-one can say I haven't tried.
You know how it ends now
Ok, I just have done, a two bed, £110 a week.
If I turn down the temporary flat I've been offered will I get this flat?
Of course I won't.
How do I know?
Because I've been bidding weekly for at least the two years you have known me and I've got jack shit.
Even a "pressing need" can't get me a council flat. "Pressing need" is how the council identified to me those who have been housed and have waited a mere six months.
So the temporary offer is an ultimatum, the alternative is a hostel. Would I have a "pressing need" from there? Sure I would, but I would be moved to alternative temporary or the private sector. That is what has happened to some I have met.
If my family is going to be bounced around through this system the best I can hope for is somewhere my child has his own room.
I cannot risk turning down the flat I have been offered, not even on the grounds of "expensive and insecure"
If in the future I still want "affordable and secure" I will have to "keep bidding" for it. If I want to avoid another eviction I have to "keep bidding" for it.
Twenty three months I have taken you on this journey to eviction. I really hoped I could give you a happy and hopeful ending. No-one can say I haven't tried.
You know how it ends now
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