More than 7 years ago, Ben managed to extricate himself from a lifestyle dominated by drugs, making the brave and difficult choice to leave behind the environment he new was destroying him. Ever since then, he has been intermittently street homeless and sofa surfing in a different city, away from his triggers, where he also recently had to seek emergency hospital treatment for kidney failure. Finding accommodation was a priority for Ben’s medical team, as he was ready to be discharged from the hospital, and due to start life-saving dialysis.
But, because Ben had no permanent address in his current community, the cash-strapped local authority insisted that he had no connection to the area, and so did not qualify for supported accommodation locally. They instructed the hospital to refer Ben back to a neighbouring local authority, where he has no recent social or medical links whatsoever, causing his clinical team serious concerns that isolation would drive him back to drugs if forced to return.
Fortunately, the hospital was able to procure Ben emergency legal advice through the Pathway Legal Advice Project, funded by St Martin’s Charity. Thanks to the project, legal experts were able to prepare an urgent pre-action letter to the local authority. They gathered evidence from a range of local agencies who have supported Ben to provide proof of residence. The pre-action letter was successful and Ben was given accommodation within 24 hours. Ben is now settled in supported accommodation close to his network, and is receiving the treatment he needs in order to get his health back on track.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy.