Wendy and her adult son, who both live with autism, were facing severe housing challenges. Wendy is the sole carer of her son, who has mobility issues, and they were living in a property that was unfit for habitation. This is Wendy’s story.
Wendy’s home was in a state of severe disrepair, with frequent flooding rendering the downstairs of the house uninhabitable. The constant environmental hazards worsened the challenges for Wendy and her son, making it increasingly difficult for both to maintain any sense of stability or comfort in their living conditions.
Additionally, both Wendy and her son were agoraphobic and unable to leave the house, which significantly affected their ability to engage with outside services and seek help. Wendy also struggled with processing information over the phone, further complicating the situation.
The Initial Challenge
Wendy contacted Adult Social Care seeking housing support, leading her to be referred to BHT Sussex’s East Sussex Floating Support Service (ESFSS). The situation was urgent and the need for intervention was clear. The home they lived in had become increasingly unsafe, and with no immediate options for relocation, they faced the looming threat of homelessness.
At the same time, the landlord had begun legal proceedings to sell the property, with a demand for Wendy to vacate by a specified date. The threat of eviction, combined with the state of their current home, led to heightened anxiety for both Wendy and her son. Their search for private rented accommodation had proven unsuccessful, and neither was comfortable with the idea of emergency housing.
The trauma and stress resulting from the flooding and the possibility of being homeless contributed to Wendy’s mental health challenges.
Our Intervention
One of our ESFSS support workers was assigned to assist Wendy. Due to the challenges presented by her agoraphobia, it was agreed that our support worker would meet Wendy in the garden of her home.
We took immediate steps to address their housing situation by assisting Wendy complete a homelessness and housing application, gathering all the necessary supporting documents and medical evidence. This was particularly challenging due to previous floods that had destroyed important paperwork, including identification. We applied for funding to obtain Citizen Cards for both Wendy and her son. These cards would provide the necessary identification for completing the housing application and accessing other social services.
The next step was to also manage legal threats. We worked closely with Wendy to manage the escalating legal threat, advising her on the eviction process and the implications of the landlord’s sale of the property.
Recognizing the emotional strain Wendy was under, ESFSS referred Wendy for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) through Health in Mind, an organisation specializing in mental health support.
The Successful Outcomes
Through our intervention, Wendy successfully secured an adapted property from the local authority that met the needs of both her and her son, allowing them to move into a safer, more suitable home.
The move was an emotional and logistical challenge for Wendy, particularly as the flooding had destroyed most of their belongings. However, with our support, Wendy and her son were able to transition smoothly into their new home. The Floating Support Officer provided crucial resettlement assistance, which included:
- Updating Wendy’s Universal Credit claim to reflect the new circumstances and achieving a Council Tax reduction.
- Identifying financial support. During this process, the Floating Support Officer discovered that Wendy may have been eligible for a Limited Capacity for Work element of her Universal Credit. We supported her in contacting the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), leading to a backdated payment of over £8,000. This allowed Wendy to purchase essential household goods and furnishings for their new home.
- Improving her mental health through the CBT sessions with Health in Mind. Wendy reported feeling better equipped to manage the stress and anxiety stemming from her housing uncertainty. The therapy is helping her develop healthier coping mechanisms and the tools to navigate her challenges more effectively.
The Impact
Wendy and her son are now settled in their new home and have been able to regain a sense of safety and security. Without the intervention of the East Sussex Floating Support Service, the family would have likely faced homelessness and been placed in temporary accommodation, which would have caused further stress and potentially a deterioration of their mental and physical health.
Due to the support they received, the family avoided the financial and emotional strain of temporary housing, and Wendy now has the tools to navigate her financial and social support systems independently. Our intervention prevented homelessness, promoted long-term well-being, and significantly improved the family’s quality of life.
Wendy’s case highlights the critical role of the East Sussex Floating Support Service in preventing homelessness and providing tailored, compassionate support to vulnerable individuals. By addressing both the practical and emotional needs of Wendy and her son, we helped them secure a stable and adapted home, improving their lives in both the short and long term.
The success of this intervention also underscores the importance of a personalized, hands-on approach when working with people who have complex needs, such as autism and agoraphobia. Wendy and her son are now on a path to a brighter future, thanks to the unwavering support they received from their dedicated Floating Support Worker.
Help us protect people like Wendy by signing our petition to stop budget cuts of £4 million to the East Sussex Floating Support Service.
You can read more about the proposed budget cuts on our website here.
