STAGE 3 CANCER PATIENT: CANNOT START CHEMO | DENIED HOMELESS DUTY | 70 YEARS OLD
This story covers the past, the present and future hopes of a stage 3 cancer patient who has been denied homelessness assistance in Brighton & Hove following a decision to leave the UK during the unprecedented Covid-19 Pandemic and other influences which will become clear. The Pensioner cannot start his cancer treatment until he secures long-term housing in order to recuperate in dignity.
Firstly you should cast you mind back to the Covid-19 Pandemic Restrictions & Section 21 Eviction Enforcement Rules.
COVID-19 Restrictions Timeline:
- Early 2020: Initial lockdown measures, advising people to stay at home and closing non-essential businesses.
- Summer 2020: Easing of restrictions with some business reopenings and limited social gatherings.
- Autumn/Winter 2020: Tiered system based on infection rates, with Tier 4 being the strictest.
- December 2020: National lockdown due to a new variant.
- Spring 2021: Vaccination rollout and gradual easing of restrictions.
- Summer 2021: Most legal restrictions lifted.
- Autumn 2021: Booster shots and recommendations for mask-wearing in crowded places.
Section 21 Eviction Enforcement Rules:
- March 2020: Temporary ban on evictions due to COVID-19.
- June 2020: Extension of the eviction ban until August 2020.
- September 2020: Further extension of the eviction ban until September 2020.
- November 2020: Introduction of a six-month notice period for Section 21 evictions.
- May 2021: Reduction of notice period to four months.
- August 2021: Notice period further reduced to two months.
Mr. C Backstory & Timeline
The Pensioner cannot start his cancer treatment until he secures long-term housing in order to recuperate in dignity. He has now signed up for a legal aid and is sleeping in a backpackers hostel but is struggling and could be at imminent risk of street homelessness with ongoing funding struggles for a backpackers hotel & waiting for the legal process to conclude, however long that may take.
He literally could be spending Christmas there.
MR. C: BACKSTORY PRIOR TO THE CURRENT ISSUES:
The Issue: (What Has Happened?)
Mr. C has lived in Brighton & Hove since 1981 on and off. In his most recent permanent home, he was a private tenant for 19 years until his landlord decided to sell up and this resulted in a notice of possession being served to Mr. C. He then approached Brighton and Hove City Council who housed him in Temporary Accommodation.
This backstory details the timeline of events during which Mr C. Was under significant stresses, fighting for survival but in and around severe restrictions on movement and events which would later have an impact on the return to the UK.
Notably The Eviction / Room Cancellation / Cancelling His Homelessness Duty in feb 21, at a time when Mr.C could do nothing to return to the UK.
We all remember the £3,500 Hotel Bill when the restrictions were lifted and 10 days isolation in a hotel for returnees. Mr C. Could not afford this and panicked, Considering he had his room cancelled he continued to isolate, recover and attempt to get back to the UK.
Mr. C states:
‘I was terrified of returning alone to Brighton without my wife and was feeling suicidal because of an inability to cope with life, to be honest. I had spent most of the last 50 years alone and living in the squalor of 10/10 hoarding disorder. I feared the almost certainty of being unable to cope, without the support of my wife.’
Timeline Since Return To The UK Following Deterioration of Cancer
Victim of Extreme Child Abuse in Northern Ireland
This happened in a children’s care home and would go on to have a massive impact on Mr. C’s Life & Mental Health.
Moves to Hove
Has two children.
Returns to the city rents home in Brighton Kemptown
Mr. C left Brighton in 93 with family & returned to Brighton following divorce.
Eviction Process Started
He was a private tenant for 19 years. His landlord decided to sell up and this resulted in notice of possession being served to Mr. C. Contacted Housing Needs. Eviction Enforcement Carried out on 22/10/2020.
ATTENDED MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT
“In August 2019, a NHS psychiatrist, after subjecting me to a very cynical mental health assessment, refused to allow me any mental therapy, despite later, me being privately diagnosed here in Turkey, with ‘chronic depression’ by a hospital psychiatrist – my wife acted as an interpreter and explained my symptoms.
'Inoperable' Advanced prostate cancer, with a 'large tumour' diagnosed
March 2020 - Covid-19 Lockdown 1
Early 2020: The first COVID-19 cases were reported in England, leading to initial lockdown measures in March 2020. People were advised to stay at home, and non-essential businesses closed.
Section 21 Eviction Ban March 2020: At the beginning of the pandemic, the UK government introduced a temporary ban on evictions. Initially, this ban covered a period of 90 days, meaning that landlords could not begin eviction proceedings using Section 21 notices during this time.
PLACED IN EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION
Placed in Unsupported Emergency Accommodation.
WENT TO TURKEY FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT
Mr C. Who Suffers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder temporarily left the UK for some rest bite and medical treatment. Fight/flight reaction.
Dec 2020: National Lockdown. All Flights To Turkey & Return Flights Cancelled.
Stranded | Recovering | Marriage
Whilst the world was grappling with the pandemic and restrictions in Turkey there were restrictions and curfews in place.
Mr. C was not only self isolating due his health vulnerability, but he was being cared for by his fiancé whom he went on to marry.
Mr C. Updated Council on issues & changes.
PASSPORT EXPIRY
EVICTION FROM EMERGENCY ACCOMMODATION
Eviction From Emergency Accommodation / Duty Ended:
DISABLED NIECE TRAVELLED 160 MILE ROUND TRIP TO COLLECT POSSESSIONS.
NEW PASSPORT ISSUED & RECEIVED
UPDATED THE COUNCIL ON YOUR PASSPORT SITUATION. RECEIVED NEW PASSPORT. TRAVEL BAN TO UK STILL IN FORCE.
CONTINUES ISOLATING & RECOVERY:
‘…due to the continuing coronavirus crisis in the UK, and my medical vulnerability due to diagnosed advanced inoperable T3C prostate cancer, I am continuing to shield here in Istanbul where I am being cared for by my fiancé who is a cancer care nurse with 25 years experience’.
DIAGNOSED WITH PTSD
‘I was diagnosed with PTSD by the private psychologist who submitted the forensic psychology report to the Redress Board of Northern Ireland.’
Due to his Historic Child Abuse from the 1960s.
Want To Raise A Personal Injustice or Homeless Issue? Tell Us Your Story
Completes Housing Options Form
Still in Istanbul. Returning For Cancer Treatment with Wife….
Writes to Council Before Return
“To be brutally honest if I had returned alone it is likely that I would have committed suicide, as does 90% of people who’ve been through what happened to me as a child in care, according to a police call handler I spoke to on the phone. As he put it, “Normally, we just wouldn’t be having this conversation”. This was also echoed by numerous Samaritans I’ve spoken to a few years ago, just before I left for Istanbul, with a flickering ember of hope in my heart.
MR. C RETURNS TO BRIGHTON & HOVE ALONE
Sleeping on RSC Hospital Toilet Floor
Reports no homeless team. provided a map of homeless services and told to leave.
Signs Up With Daniel Harris
Daniel Harris Tagged in a Social Media Post.
Contact niece, Mr. C Completes New Client form, & we organise a hostel YHA for one night for Mr. C
Turned Away From YHA Hostel
Refused board due to rules, hey say its for tourists only and not residential even thought we only booked for one night.
During Covid and Furlough YHA Hostel was used to accommodate under the everyone in programme as was paid £100,000’s.
Booked into another backpackers hostel where Mr. C Remains.
Daniel Harris Contacts Council Asks Them To Reconsider
My grounds are around the habitation rule, which I strongly advocate there are impairments here in decision making and therefore he cannot be liable for decisions made and potential other forms of exploitation.
DH copies in Cllr Paul Nann, Cllr Bella Sankey & Senior Officers.
Brighton & Hove City Council Respond
Email Reply 1: “
Dear Mr Harris,
Thank you for your below representations on behalf of Mr C. However, my s.202 review decision of the 27 September 2023 concluded the internal appeals process and it was my final decision.
Mr. C was advised in that review decision that he could appeal to the county court on a point of law where relevant, and that he would be best-placed to seek legal advice ASAP in this respect.
Yours sincerely,
Rhiannon Scott
Homelessness Reviews Officer”
A Final Plea To Change Mind
“Dear Rhiannon,
We request an another competent internal review, that one is flawed. As stated this is insidious. Any decent psych would laugh at this response, Is there no mechanism? There has been no medical report filed from your end, this is sloppy work.
Is this your final decision to make a stage four cancer suffer, suffer months of even more waiting?
With Kindest Regret,
Daniel Harris
Final Reply By Brighton & Hove City Council
“Dear Mr Harris,
Whilst I appreciate that your position is that my review decision was not competent, the internal reviews process is exhausted and I repeat that it is for Mr. C to lodge a county court appeal on a point of law where relevant.
Yours sincerely,
Rhiannon Scott
Homelessness Reviews Officer”
As it stands the future for MR. C remains unclear, he is very sleepy and tired and get spurts of energy, but at 70 years old is it right this person is trapped in more bureaucratic barriers to a place to have treatment which lets be honest will only allow him to possibly extend his life, but with dignity, privacy & support and a clean home to enable this.
Daniel Harris Opinion Note & Statement
When this case first come to me as many others do, the people affected sign up, the family report in, I get so many angles its tough to gauge the truth.
There are Four Versions and a few are the truth.
- Council house him, covid and cancer no support he fleas. during covid they evict him. Place blame on him, Denial
- With his complex history and circumstances this person is being led by survival. Survivor
- He marries his wife in Turkey who he brought a house for, not in his name, spending of tens of thousand’s. / Wealth.
- His version, he has stated eloquently, his fears which became true during unprecedented times, he tired his whole life to move forward and always faced barriers. when the shit hit the fan he left, awaiting was both support, renewal and hope. Yes & No – Because he is back alone, homeless, vulnerable, he brought a house for his wife, he has no legal claim. Vulnerable / Exploited
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