"Ringing homeless support for help"

About: Highly Specialist Services / Homeless assessment and support team (HAST)

(as a service user),

I first rang 3 days ago, to be told I'd possibly be on hold for 4 and a half hours. Thankfully it only took 2 and a half hours to get thru to someone. I explained my situation that my relationship had broke down and my ex partner wanted me out of the flat we share, the member of staff asked me for a little more info and my ex's phone number to confirm what I had told them.

10 minutes later I get called back to be told my ex hasn't corroborated my version of events and had informed the member of staff as far as she was concerned I could stay as long as I needed. I tried to explain to the member of staff that my ex was lying and as imaginable things aren't always amicable when 2 people split.

I was told there's nothing that can be done for me as it appears I'm trying to make myself intentionally homeless which of course is crazy, who would do that leading up to winter?

I decided to try again with the homeless support team, I phone up and get thru to be told wait time is 8 hours and 49 minutes and with the time I was calling and it being a Friday I probably wouldn't get any help until Monday. But I prevail and stay on the line hoping to get thru to someone and hopefully get the help I really do need.

45 mins in and the phone starts ringing. I think wow how lucky I am, especially after hearing the initial wait time, for someone to pick the phone up and put it straight back down, not even a hello.

I ring back and the phoneline has been turned off and not accepting any calls. So as I sit here writing this I still have uncertainty and stresses impacting on my mental health. I am also autistic so my anxiety is thru the roof ATM and I feel like anything I've done has been futile. I ask for help, I go down the routes put out in front of me, to be shut down at not only the 1st hurdle but the second the 3rd and the 4th.

If you don't take what the person who is asking for help is saying over someone who isn't in that predicament and will do or say anything to prolong the agony for the soon to be homeless person, how do you think that helps or even encourages anyone to want to ask for help when all that's potentially going to happen is you slam the door in their face because they're not believed?

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Responses

Response from Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust last month
Sheffield Health and Social Care NHS Foundation Trust
Submitted on 30/10/2024 at 08:08
Published on Care Opinion at 09:52


Good morning,

I am sorry to hear of your experience recently and the impact not being able to get hold of a team has had on you.

If you still require healthcare and support for your mental health from the homeless assessment and support team they are contactable between 9-5 and can be contacted on 0114 2262520. I wanted to check that was the number you called as this number does not give a wait time like you describe so wonder if you had the correct information? Also if there is any other person you are working with they can support you to do that.

If you would like to speak to me further about your experience, please contact me on zoe.dodd@shsc.nhs.uk.

Kind Regards,

Zoe Dodd

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