A MUM-OF-THREE who has nowhere to live has slammed council officials after they claimed she had made herself homeless on purpose.
Katy Staniforth had been stuck in the Hull hotel since February, but is being turfed out after the council claimed she made herself “intentionally homeless”.
MEN MediaKaty Staniforth claims she has no where to live after the council said she made herself ‘intentionally homeless’[/caption]
The 33-year-old was previously staying in a Cornwall based hotel with her children aged 11, four and two.
But the ordeal took such a toll on her mental wellbeing, Katy was thought her only was out was to “end [her] own life”.
Her family in Hull urged the single mum to move back to their home town, where the council put Katy and her kids up in a hotel.
Since arriving in February, the mum-of-three has found a job and her two eldest are enrolled in school while the little one attends nursery.
However, Hull City Council has decided because she left Cornwall, Katy made herself “intentionally homeless”.
The young family have been given until August 20 to clear out of the hotel.
Katy slammed council officials for allegedly telling her to return to Cornwall as she has no support network there.
She has tried to find a place to rent privately but is yet to be accepted.
Katy told Hull Live: “Hopefully I can stay in Hull or near Hull. I’m not fussed about what it is where it is, even if it’s just a tiny one-bedroom flat. I just need a roof over my head for me and my kids.
“I think they’ve picked up on the stress. My four-year-old needs routine and structure to cope with his emotions.”
The mum is desperate to maintain their normal routine and give each child their own space.
Speaking of her daughter she said: “On a night time, she’ll go into the bathroom and talk to her friends and hide away in there because she just wants a bit of space of her own away from her two younger brothers. Having that space is important to her.”
In response, a spokesperson for Hull City Council said: “We empathise with Miss Staniforth’s situation and have been working with her for several months concerning her housing. Unfortunately, following careful consideration of her circumstances, and in line with national homelessness legislation, Hull City Council are unable to award a homeless rehousing priority.
“It is important that the legislation is applied fairly in all cases, so that people do not receive a priority unfairly over other applicants. This is especially important at a time when there is an ongoing national housing crisis and very scarce supply of affordable accommodation.
“Whilst the Council has made a decision on Miss Staniforth’s homelessness application, she does still have a right of review, under a point of law, in the County Court, under section 204 of the Housing Act, and she should contact a solicitor or Citizens Advice if she doesn’t agree with the decision made.”
What are your rights?
IF a council in the UK decides you are intentionally homeless, you have certain rights
The council can only decide you’re intentionally homeless, or are going to be, if it can prove:
you deliberately did or didn’t do something
what you did or didn’t do caused your homelessness (or will cause it)
you were aware of all the facts before you acted, or didn’t act
it would have been, or is, reasonable for you to stay there.
If the council decides that you’re intentionally homeless, it means you won’t have a right to permanent housing, or help from the council to prevent your homelessness.
But the council does have to provide:
advice and assistance and temporary accommodation for a reasonable amount of time while you look for a new home – if you’re already homeless
advice and assistance – if you’re threatened with homelessness.
If you think the council’s decision is wrong, you could challenge it. Act quickly because you usually only have 21 days to do this.
Get advice as soon as possible. An adviser can review your case and help you decide what arguments to use to challenge the council’s decision.
Get advice from your local Citizens Advice Bureau or Shelter Scotland.
Source; Citizens Advice