IAD came to see me in February this year he was a Pensioner with a long-term illness plus other health issues. He came to submit documents for his housing application, which my predecessor had started with him last year. He was anxious about the length of time that it was taking and that certain Housing Officials were being unnecessarily slow and obstructive.
He kept me abreast via emails and in March he notified me that he had been nominated for a property and we were both excited about this. In May he advised that he had a viewing date for the property- nearly at the goal. I had an appointment with him the day after the viewing and he was angry, telling me emphatically that he had rejected the property as it was a Prison and a Hospice. He complained that there would be a morning roll call and if he went out this would be noted in a book, he didn’t understand why his movements would be monitored this way. Also, he wouldn’t be able to have visitors, or anybody live with him. What about his human rights, he demanded? Adding that he wanted his freedom!
As he was an educated Gentleman and as we hadn’t any previous problems communicating, this latest development puzzled me. I knew he couldn’t have been offered a Hospice by the Council but found the property details anyway and spoke to the Sheltered Housing Worker who had shown him the property. I outlined his concerns and she told me that she had explained it wasn’t a Prison or a Hospice, but he was adamant, so she had notified the Council that he had rejected the property.
When I looked at the emails accompanying the offer, the Council deemed it a suitable and reasonable property for IAD, so his rejection for spurious reasons, I feared, would cause the Council to discharge its duty having done its legal best, end his temporary accommodation and IAD would need to find his own accommodation. I told him of my concerns, and he was happy to consider the private rented market as he would have his freedom. I advised him to contact his Caseworker to find out what their next steps would be.
In June IAD came to see me advising that he wished to reverse his withdrawal having spoken to his Support Worker at the NHS. Apparently, he had received information about Hospices on the same day as the viewing, became frightened and confused, concluding he was being offered a final resting place, hence his reaction. I pointed out that I had tried reasoning with him as had his Sheltered Housing Worker, but he had been emphatic and adamant.
At his request I called the Sheltered Scheme, they had received an email from his Support worker and I was advised the property had been let so I should contact the Council. I sent an email to IAD’s Caseworker advising that he wished to reconsider, inwardly thinking that there was little chance the Council would accept this now.
Shortly afterwards, I was surprised and relieved to learn, via an email from IAD’s NHS Support Worker that Southwark would make him a new offer. I congratulated the Support worker on her persistence, and she said:
“Hi Chinasa,
Think it’s to do with IAD getting in contact with you because without the advocacy of Manna he wouldn’t have reconsidered or understood that a direct offer of sheltered housing is in all probability the very best outcome.”