Our Senior Caseworker Michelle received a referral from a Probation Officer who was extremely concerned about Dan, his young client.  His partner Kyra was just 18 years old and a first time mum.  The couple and their newborn baby were living in diabolical conditions in a privately trented bedsit.  The ceiling had fallen in and there was considerable damp throughout.  Conditions were so bad that the couple were now sleeping on the floor at Dan's mother's house.  The couple were extremely distressed at their circumstances and were worried for their baby's safety.

Michelle contacted the landlord who was unhelpful and placed responsibility for the bedsit's state of disrepair on the couple. He stated that they had not paid any rent recently.  However, this was because the couple were unable to claim housing benefit as they were no longer in residence at the property.  It was a catch 22 situation - they were accumulating rent arrears but would be committing fraud if they claimed housing benefit.

Michelle contacted the local council to get them to assess the property and make a decision as to whether the property was fit for residence. At the same time, she helped the couple make an application to the local authority for a council property.  That same week, Michelle was told that the landlord had evicted the couple and thrown all their belongings out.  Michelle supported the couple to present as homeless at the local authority and request help.  The council contacted the landlord and demanded that he allow the couple back in the property but they were refused entry by the lettings agent when they went to pick up the keys.  They returned to Dan's mother's house and continued to sleep on the floor.  Michelle immediately mae contact with the Citizen's Advice legal services to arrange for the couple to see a specialist housing solicitor.

As a result, three weeks later the couple were offered a two-bedroomed house in their local area through the local authority.  Kyra and Dan were thrilled to finally have somewhere safe and secure to live.  Michelle is currently trying to source essentials such as a cooker, bed and cot for the couple as they have no possessions.

The future now looks much brighter for all three of them.  Dan is doing well on a training course to develop his skills in the hope he will be able to get a job in the near future and Kyra is attending a training course.