I realise it’s been a while since updating! Going to plan to do it fortnightly.. see how we get along!
Firstly, there’s no change on the housing front... we are still in temporary accommodation, and will be here for a long time the way the bidding is going.
I have no idea how it works anymore! Before the system changed we could bid on larger 4 bedroom houses and was coming second so you knew it was only a matter of time. Then last April the system changed.. so now I can’t bid on four bedrooms (as that’s less than I ‘need’ surely I should know what my family ‘needs’ more than a computer?) and I’m coming 40+. This week was the perfect house ideal location, all out support networks in reach... we came 49th!!! How does that work?
We have now been homeless for two years. Why does no-one have the power or common sense just to say, you’ve lived and worked in the area for 30 years, all your friends and support are there, you didn’t make yourself intentionally homeless, you worked for the council in a position where you had to live in our house to do the job, here’s the house you need!
The more I've talked about this the more I've become aware of the amount of residential caretakers that struggle to find housing and end up in flats or private rental houses, (which is probably what would have happened to us without a young family) its a shame that these people put their lives into looking after our children's future, but there's no loyalty or back up from the council who employed them (then the schools turned into academies...) to support and re-home them. You do get residential points for housing, which are taken away when you become homeless, you only get residential points or homeless, your not blessed with both!
This house is costing the council a fortune, the rent is near to double what we would pay in a permanent house and the difference comes from benefits. A permanent house would be lower rent, a stable base to start job hunting and getting off benefits, a place where my hubby can feel secure and heal so he can get back to work, for a man who’s always worked this situation really doesn’t help your mental health, it would be somewhere to re-start our lives, (and get a dog!). All it would take to change our lives is someone to say.. this house is ideal for you, b19, close to where your lives were left paused, here you go, now restart your lives, live...being able to plan the future would be amazing!
As for the kids, one is looking at colleges, one is just finishing college so job hunting, but its difficult when you don’t know how long you will be here. even getting interviews can be hard! We keep coming across the question 'Is this your permanent address?' (is it?) Are we lying if we tick yes, then its found out that its a temporary address (so rendering any contract void), but then to tick no and explain the situation, would you employ someone who doesn't know where they will be next week, month, year?
As for the small ones, home education is the best decision we've ever made.
There's some amazing home education groups in Birmingham, you can find any information you need on the internet, and active parks have set up a forest school!
Some pictures since the last update..
The big man himself paid a visit..
I am so truly grateful for the house, imagine spending this time of year in a B&B....
and left presents
We went on a trip to Telford Wonderland,
Small community groups such as the Ladywood project are a lifeline for families who are isolated or struggling, they don't get nearly the amount of credit they deserve! I'm incredibly lucky that the Ladywood project has been at the end of the phone, road or Facebook page, for many years, nothing is ever to much trouble for them and if they don't know the answer they know someone who does! They give families a day trip, an ear, a phone line, a referral, whatever they can to help! They really are so underestimated and i honestly don't know where i would have been without them sometimes, not just recently with the homeless situation where we are never forgotten, but throughout the years we have lived in Ladywood. Thank you xx
We've been out with friends,
I am blessed with friends that are unconditional, if we cant make something we still get invited next time. Moving away from everyone and everything can feel completely overwhelming and isolating, we are lucky we have a small group of friends that are reliable and amazing!
one of the elves copied the you tuber with the head in the microwave....
and we had some snow fun!!
Thanks for reading! I'm amazed people are interested in us! Please be kind to people you never know their stories. Anyone's lives can take a hiccup so never judge it could be you and yours one day x
We are lucky everyone we've had contact with has been nice, but being in limbo land is horrid, knowing your at the mercy of someone who's never met you, who presses the information into a computer, and feeds you the outcome, computers have no common sense unfortunately and people seem to have less and less input.
We are grateful to everyone who's helped us and thank you xx
And if your a computer, Hurdlow Avenue, Hockley, B19 is ideal for the Romeos!!!
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