Hi, I am a male in my mid 20's, i have recently split up from my wife, i am still living with her at the moment as i don't have anywhere else to go.

I have recently submitted housing applications to several housing associations and sheffield homes.

I have one child who will be staying with me for half the week every week as we will be having shared custody.

I am wondering if i will be waiting a long time to get somewhere waiting on the housing association and sheffield homes waiting lists, also would i be entitled to any sort of priority?

Would i be entitled to income support? obviously only one person can claim child benefit and income support for a child, me and my ex agreed that i would be the one claiming for her.

I am going to have to consider private properties but the only problem is you have to pay a large amount for a deposit and usually a month in advance.

Can i get any kind of grant from the social for payment of my deposit?
Also i know that not many landlords accept DSS so that is another problem but i would consider a private property if i found somewhere suitable that did accept DSS.

I suffer from a few health problems such as moderate asthma, panic attacks and anxiety disorder not that this would help with my application i don't think.

I really need some advice asap, thanks.

Hopefully MsMcBeth will see this, she's quite the expert on these matters and helped me. Similarly HappyHippy might be able to help with the income support questions.

One thing you have not mentioned, have you just joined the housing waiting list?

Personally, I can't see anything in the post that would give you priority housing status, but hopefully I might be wrong. You may only be able to bid for 1/4 of housing with no priority. And if you have no waiting time, might prove tricky. :|

Good luck either way.

Hi, I am a male in my mid 20's, i have recently split up from my wife, i am still living with her at the moment as i don't have anywhere else to go.

I have recently submitted housing applications to several housing associations and sheffield homes.

I have one child who will be staying with me for half the week every week as we will be having shared custody.

I am wondering if i will be waiting a long time to get somewhere waiting on the housing association and sheffield homes waiting lists, also would i be entitled to any sort of priority?

Would i be entitled to income support? obviously only one person can claim child benefit and income support for a child, me and my ex agreed that i would be the one claiming for her.

I am going to have to consider private properties but the only problem is you have to pay a large amount for a deposit and usually a month in advance.

Can i get any kind of grant from the social for payment of my deposit?
Also i know that not many landlords accept DSS so that is another problem but i would consider a private property if i found somewhere suitable that did accept DSS.

I suffer from a few health problems such as moderate asthma, panic attacks and anxiety disorder not that this would help with my application i don't think.

I really need some advice asap, thanks.

One thing at a time, my friend.

First and foremost, you must try and get priority for housing for yourself. Even though your partner has said that you'll have your kid for half of the week, it's only you who is homeless.

It sounds harsh, but your kid doesn't "have" to be with you for half of the week. A one-bed flat would be adequate for your 'needs'. I have three girls, and only one who lives with me. I live in a two bed flat, with three girls squashed into one room when my elder two turn up.

Get yourself something first, and then take it from there. You will find it difficult if you are still staying with your ex though, as you have a roof over your head. Been there, done it. I was sleeping on the bole hills at Crookes and showering at work. The irony is that I was interviewing people who were out of work at the time!

'When' you have somewhere, you can share the Child Benefit between yourselves. That has been the case for years. So long as you and your kid's mother agree that you share the 'caring responsibility' equally, then the benefit can be shared.

With regard to working age benefits, then I'd need to know a lot more about your personal circumstances, such as who was working, and that may be too personal to put on a public forum.

One step at a time though, get yourself an independent place to live, then think about the rest.

Sorry I can't be more more constructive for you, but for what it's worth, that's my advice.

All the very best in dark times :(

Hi there

I would possibly suggest you ring Shelter for some free housing advice, they are open every day 8am - 8pm on 0808 800 4444.

In general with regards to your housing, if you have joint residency of one of your children you could try to use them under homelessness as your 'priority need'. This can be difficult to argue as even if joint residency it doesnt automatically mean they will class them as residing with you. This agreement doesnt have to be under a court order it can be jointly agreed between you.

If you approach the homeless team in Sheffield at Howden House and declare yourself as homeless and they will do a homeless application. They look at 5 different things these being Homeless, Eligible, Priority Need, Intentionally Homeless and Local Connection, if they decide you dont meet one of the 5 criteria you will be entitled to that decision in writing (this is called a Section 184 letter) and you will then have 21 days in which to challenge that decision.

I would suggest if you need any help with challenging any negative decisions or help with checking you have the right priority etc on the waiting list then if you are eligable for legal aid you can ring the Community Legal Advice Line on 0845 345 43 45 they are open Mon-Fri 8am - 6.30pm. Howells Sols in Sheffield works on this line but you may get someone elsewhere in the country.

I dont know your full circumstances so would suggest you get some more specific advice from Shelter, Community Legal Advice or your Local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Good luck!

Just to add to what previous posters have said re your homeless situation. A child is normally classed as living with the person who receives their child benefit. You are most likely to be assessed as a single man, so unless you have some reason to be considered vulnerable (disability, serious physical or mental illness for instance) its unlikely you would meet the criteria. You mention health issues, their severity will be taken into account, for instance if you receive DLA. Although you may fit the homeless, eligible, not intentional and local connection criteria, if you aren't considered to be in Priority Need then the council have no statutory duty to find you accommodation and only need offer advice and assistance.

Loops offers a good suggestion to contact Shelter on their freephone, or you could try this online assessment: http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/downloads_and_tools/does_the_council_have_to_house_you

Even council accommodation for single people is in pretty short supply (I remember Ash's wait for a flat) based on waiting time. You don't say whether you're already on the housing register. If you're just joining, then its not promising. Perhaps as you mention, a housing association or private renting may be the solution.

Hi,

I know this doesnt help as such but when I had my little boy I was fleeing domestic Violence and wanted to move to a 2 bed bigger property, I had 6 years waiting time with Sheffield Homes and was bidding on properties everyweek and I did not get anything. I was on the list with various housing associations but 1 came really quick and once they had the details of my little boy and widerd the areas I wanted to go to I was offered a beautiful house in about a week. My advice would be to try and get on all housing association lists really as quick as you can because I find they are better than Sheffield Homes.
I would still be waiting if I had waited for the council. Have you also tried going to Normad I know they work with young people but im not sure how young, maybe under 25 or something. They can provide Bonds I believe and help you find accomodation. I would also try and contact Shelter or CAB for some advice about where you stand really.

Good Luck!!