General Chat

Marvellous, the bomber's in London didnt seem to have any trouble getting money out of the system, it seems to have been made easier for them and our own people havent got a chance. It does make you mad, a man who fought for his country thrown out of his home and yet they cant give homes away fast enough to these A Seeker's. Len Ex service & b----y annoyed

Brenda, this makes you weep doesn't it. Our own old people being treated to this disgraceful behaviour and whoever is responsible should be ashamed. Something like this could be the end of an old person and all those damned 'job's worths' don't give a toss. They must have known he was an aged gent and should have sent someone around to explain his situation to him and straighten out any mess with his benefits. Better not say anymore on this one, otherwise I'll be in strife with the PC brigade. What area of the country - can I do anything? Jan xx

Wish he lived near me as I could give him somewhere to live, and his wee dog, seriously. But some people's record is sounding a bit stuck!

Reading about what happened to this poor man and his little friend made me both sad and angry. With all the charities, agencies, community groups etc around these days you would have thought that someone would have stepped in to sort out his plight. Perhaps the Salvation Army could assist ? I've always thought they were one of the more compassionate organisations. I truly hope there is a happy ending for them both

Brenda, I have to say I disagree with you. I hope the petty people who are responsible for the lock change DO experience this themselves, it would damn well serve them right. x Shelli, what a good idea! That should put those beings to shame.

BBw Let us know how he gets on.Tell him there are plenty of people thinking of him. I don't suppose for a minute there is any thing we can help him with but,if I could I would. Angie

Depending on where he lives in the Country there may well be a VOLUNTARY (I emphasise that because it shows a hole in our Social Support System) organisation that will help. Here in Portsmouth we have a Housing Advice Centre, part of the Southern Focus Trust, which will go all the way to representation in Court on behalf of those unfairly made Homeless, having Landlord/Tenant difficulties, or harassed in some way.

thank you all for your condemnation of this - I just hope that the next time I see him that he and his dog are happily settled in a nice little flat. thank you for your concerns brenda

what about involving the papers....... show the council up for what they really are???? Housing benefit dept seem to have no idea that they actually hold peoples lifes in theri hands. I submited a claim right back in april, still not sorted. And now they say the info i suppiled isn't current enough and i have to supply it all again. It would've been current it they had actioned it when i first submitted it. I wouldn't mind it was paying all my rent but this is for £10 a week am begining to think it's simply not worth the bother !!!!!!!!

It sounds to me as though if it is a council flat they have been less than helpful. Although aren't many of the council housing projects in the hand of housing associations these days? i suspect they will have warned him about rent arrears and, because he knew he should be getting the benefit to pay he has just ignored it. he needs a local councillor to look into why he was actually locked out of his flat without his belongings. So many elderly people don't understand how things work these days and it is despicable that he has been treated in this way. maybe someone from help the Aged could fight his corner. Ann Glos

He is in B&B now and this local councillor has taken up his case, but he will have to live in another town I expect away from everyone he knows. The B&B give his little dog 'Jacob' breakfast every day, so they seem to be kind. I only see him once a month and had to drag out of him why he was going to have to leave the meeting early, it was that he would have to walk to the railway station to get a train home instead of going on foot I am still seething!! At least he seems to have been settled for a while. Unfortunately I dont even know where he lived before (the address) that is and he didnt have a phone. I might just let his neice know, I should have her emaill on my contacts list brenda

Brenda, This has made me WILD! Why-oh-why do we treat our elderly folk so badly??? I could go on forever about lack of respect for them and so forth, but that wouldn't help. Is there anything you can do for him? Can you 'raise the profile' of his situation with the right people? He probably needs someone to help him fight his corner. My Mum's in her 70s now and less able to stand up for herself, though pretty fit & healthy - so this poor fellow might need a hand too. Good luck with anything you try. Regs Jane

That is totally disgusting. I can't beleive that any one could do this,they should be shot. Surely his siuation should have been looked at and had help off the relevent council.I thought the older generation got help with that sort of thing.It makes me so cross to.A man who is so vunrable gets kicked out for something minor and yet they keep people housed who don't pay there rent in months,don't look after there property or who are just plain anti social. This needs to be brought to some ones attention. Angie

What a terrible thing to happen to an elderly man!! i am disgusted at his treatment and i sincerely hope this is put right PDQ for him, after all the weather is bad at the moment i hope he has enough warm clothing. Please let us know how he gets on, i am thinking about him!! Bow

Im afraid that he isnt really into getting legal help, and have a horrible feeling that it might have been a council flat. If he had to be parted from his dog it would kill him. Its so sad brenda

Something is not quite right there Brenda - the landlord does not have the right to do that to him. Somebody must be able to give him legal help.

I met an elderly gentleman at a meeting last night who at the age of over 70 has been forced to live in a B&B through no fault of his own. Seemingly his new application form for Housing beneit had been lost in the post and even though he had been paying the extra that was due, he came home late one night to find that the locaks had been changed on his flat. Luckily he is official of the local Methodist church and had a key so went in there, with his lovely little dog and 2dossed2 down for the night. After a few nights of friends couches he was adivised to apply for a new flat only to be told he had made himself voluntarily homeless. Eventually he was put into B&B but told 'no Dogs'. Luckily the landlord on seeing the dog allowed it to stay, and is infact making a great fus of it. This gentleman fought for his country and the only thing he has in the world is his dog and the few things that were in his flat. Through one of his local councillors he is hoping to get a small flat . I dont know what has happened to all his worldly goods that he had in his former flat. I know this person as I helped him find his only relatives, a neice, who he has now met. He was put in an orphanage at the age of 5. What a way to treat our older generation. I hope the petty officials who were responsible for this never have it happen to them. Sorry to rant, but I am so CROSS brenda