Housing Department visit

[PennyBlack]

I visited the Housing Department to submit an application form to go onto the housing register and the reception I got from the woman I saw really upset me as she was so dismissive, awkward and obstructive. She kept trying to fob me off with reasons why I wouldn't even be considered and kept trying to hand me back the form. I stuck with it and eventually she took it.

Why do council officials have to be like this? Have they no idea how stressful and upsetting this is? I've now been worried sick ever since as she said she was going to process it as to whether I'll be accepted or not. :confused:

[Josie]

Council workers are ass holes! They either give you the run around and pass you from dept to dept blaming each other or make you feel like crap!

Have you heard anything yet?

[PennyBlack]

Yes but the story is so involved and long you'd all be asleep before I finished!!!

Surfice to say they ignored all my medical evidence and longstanding local connectione etc and put me in the lowest band i.e. E which means yes, I'm on the register but no - they'll never offer me anything.:mad:

So it was then 'appeal' against their descision - the CAB guy really let me down so my 'case' is now with Shelter who deal with all housing problems, not just homeless folk.

Apparently my medical stuff was forwarded to an Independent Medical Advisor for 'assessment' - now that's a joke - the 'independent' bit as they're still employed/paid by the council! So naturally they're not going to rock the boat and disagree with council decisions now are they?!!!

Anyway the reply apparently was sent back - BUT the council are still stalling saying they are still 'assessing' THAT decision. More like trying to find yet more excuses why they won't help me.

Its a total joke it really is.

[Josie]

I hate councils! No matter where I have lived they have all been just as unhelpful as eachother and it sucks if I am honest!

Sorry to hear your problem is not yet resolved! :(

Lets hope they get it together!

Its crazy how they work isn't it? Some people get a three bedroom house with one childs and others have to cram into a two bed with 3 kids! I have seen it with a few people and just wonder how they actually work the system????

Maybe it helps to know someone in there or whatever?

[PennyBlack]

Don't know if you still come on here Josie - I've noticed this forum isn't used very much but just thought I'd mention that the council are still stalling and won't help me. They keep dredging up every pathetic reason why they SHOULDN'T help me. What I don't understand is WHY councils have such a vice grip hold on where folk live? Surely if they simply allow people to move where they want - and its usually to be near family - there'd be a lot more happy people out there.

What does it matter WHO lives where. I've never understood this especially when say I have lived in the Guildford area ALL MY LIFE yet I'm being refused again and again. BUT if I were an asylum seeker/immigrant who suddenly appeared on the council's door - they get housed. If I were a stupid teenager who got herself pregnant - I'd be housed.

I've lived in Guildford all my life, I went to school there, worked there, married and lived there, my sons were born there - but NO, the council just arent interested and why? A 'current policy' which states if you live in a Housing Association assured tenancy - then that overrides any longstanding local connection and/or medical need.

What is so stupid is that Housing Associations are no longer allowed to do internal transfers as in the past - this has now been taken over by the councils. So if you want to transfer you have to apply direct to the local authority in the area you want to transfer to. And of course they've made this as difficult as possible because you've got to be accepted on their housing register and MANY THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS just get slapped into the lowest 'band' and will NEVER be offered anything - all that happens is their name is on a list - nothing more.

THEN - the councils ensure that no-one can transfer even though they fill all the questions in, 'qualify' on all the various conditions the council states are required - then STILL GET REFUSED due to that 'current policy'. Its just a bloody joke it truly is.

People within the social housing sector AREN'T treated as human beings but like puppets to be 'played with' at the councils 'whim'.

These 'power trippers' - sorry - housing department officials are responsible for ruining so many peoples lives, fragmenting families and yes, are even responsible for those who commit suicide having been driven to the depths of depression and despair by continually being REFUSED to be allowed to return or live in their home areas.

AND I HOPE SOMEONE FROM GUILDFORD COUNCIL READS THIS AND HOPEFULLY MIGHT JUST MAKE YOUR CONSCIENCE HURT LIKE HELL WITH GUILT.

[Josie]

:( Ah Penny I am so sorry to hear that!

I do still come on here, here and there, but there aren't many people to talk with are there? :confused:

You are right though, their priorities are all over the place, I know loads of people that are in need of help in some form or another and dont get it and yet as I said before you get two people in a three bed house! Its mad and just doesn't make sense really does it?

I just don't understand how they can give housing away willy nilly to stupid people that don't deserve it, I mean if there needs to be some sort of process in place to help those that reallt needs it! It sucks the way they do things! I hate councils! Getting help it like getting blood froma stone in my opinions!

I really hope something sorts itself out for you soon x x x

[PennyBlack]

Its just a lottery really - either your face fits or it doesn't.:(

[Josie]

Stupid people!

:(

[will56]

Stupid people!??????

[PennyBlack]

Well if you're still around Josie - I've just had the worst news I could have. As I said my health has been poor and I've been gradaully feeling worse and worse. Seeing my GP every 10-14 days for the last 16 months. She insisted that the pain I was getting other than that from my osteo-arthritis in my hips, upper and lower spine and the gripping and spasms in my gut were due to the diverticular problem I have. This did not explain the awful pain I was getting in my upper back - left should blade round the rib cage and other symptoms. She continued to insisted I had fibromalgia - referred me to a rheumatologist who true - did a bone scan which was clear - and she too sais i had fibromyalgia and that there was nothing she could do but refer me to the Pain Clinic - huh some joke been referred 7 times to that place over the last 18 months and still never had an appointment. Got seen by a Consultant Psychologist who 'assessed' me and was amazed I was sent to her as she said no-one ever goes to her unless they've been first to the pain clinic. Anyway don't want to confuse you too much. She then said she would put me on her course because I still feel there is something more that can be done to sort out the pain - dead right I did.

My health continued to plummet where I could barely do the housework, cook a meal, found it had to get washed and dressed - certainly couldn't get into the bath and I'm tell this to the doctor every appointment I go to. I cried buckets - I got referred to the mental health team and they concluded I had a phobia about my health - er yes I did - I was convinced I ha something else wrong wiht me and no-one was finding it. I refused to take the antidepressants as they just made me feel ill.

Well big intro this - so to cut a long story short - having one morning in early March barely made is to the bathroom as I nearly collapsed, hardly able to breath was able to get to the telephone and ring the out of services doctor who called round listened to my chest and called immediately for an ambulance.

And this is what they found after a couple of days of tests at the hospital I have:

Congestive Cardiac Failure
Fluid at the base of both lungs and around the heart
Blood clots in both lungs
And a large shadow in my left lung.

After a dreaded bronchoscopy - I get told I have a large tumour which is malignant. They're going to send me for another scan to see if there are any secondaries elsewhere - in the end they change their mind - instead - sister came to me just as I'd been given my lunch to say that a Dr Ezhil wanted to see me in Chipstead Clinic (East Surrey Hospital) in 10 minutes. So didn't have time to finish my lunch as the porter came to wheel me down. Well this is what she said. 'They' couldn't heal me - the tumour is too big for surgery and too close to the heart and other vital organs, all they can offer me is radiotherapy and chemotherapy. I asked how long have I got - she said about a year. I was then sobbing my heart out back to the ward - no one to talk to with that news just dumped on me. I had to then tell my 2 sons - it broke them to bits.

So we now have a situation where I'm going to die early next year - its pointless to pursue Guildford I'm too ill to travel and will have to stay in Horsham, BUT

[Josie]

I can't believe this its awful! It just goes to show what todays health professionals are like! No longer seeing an individual but seeing time and numbers!

I truly feel for you and wish you the best! How could they get away with it! Is there nothing you can do at all? It all seems to unjust to me :(