Wednesday July 27th
I had a hard time for the past 2 days. I tried to help a man stuck abroad because of health problems,
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
and DWP stopped his DLA because he exceeded his time abroad , although that was not his fault.
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
He was hospitalised in St Mary hospital when he returned in July and should have had an operation
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
but it was decided it was not urgent enough. So they discharged him to a homeless unit, cos losing his benefits means he also lost his home
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
He collapsed on the way there & was brought back to St Mary. They discharged him again, but by this time Westminster Housing Dpt was closed
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
So this man, with his crutches, his zimmer frame and his luggage had nowhere else to go. He has no money and no sim card
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
While he was in the hospital, he could access the internet, sent me email and write on Facebook
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
Once out of hospital, he had to rely on the kindness of strangers, like the security guards in the Westminster Housing Department
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
who allowed him to stay there until he could find a solution, let him use the phone and so on
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
I have not heard about him for the past 2 hours. I don’t know whether he is sleeping rough or if somebody found him a bed for the night
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
I had a call from the security guard.Nobody could find him a bed for the night & he will spend the night in the street. What have we become?
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 27, 2016
Thursday 28th July
Follow-up on yesterday. This man managed to get back to St Mary yesterday evening but was discharged in the middle of the night
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
He went to Westminster Housing Dept this morning and was given emergency temporary accommodation, unfortunately in Slough
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
because he needed adapted accommodation as he is disabled, and nothing could be found closer
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
Councils have a duty to provide emergency accommodation, but not assistance to get there
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
The taxi journey between London and Slough costs £45, which obviously he did not have
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
So I proposed to pay for the journey, but the taxi company does not take debit cards for non customers
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
Thank you to Vinto at One2OneCars for making an exception
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
Tonight Frederick has a bed, but he does not know whether he will have one later when his case is reviewed
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) July 28, 2016
Saturday 30th July
If you’ve not got a referral for a food bank, any other option to access food at a weekend? Trying to help someone in Slough area – thanks.
— Frances Ryan (@DrFrancesRyan) July 30, 2016
@DrFrancesRyan @AnitaBellows12 Homeless disabled man now has food and a social worker (on the phone at least).
— Merry Cross (@Merrynew13) July 30, 2016
Monday 1st August
@CityWestminster Your Housing Dept placed a homeless disabled man in Slough in temp accommodation & refuses to take responsibility for him
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
Leaving tomorrow for France but @fredjallen still need your help. Placed in Slough by Westminster housing dept@CityWestminster
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
he has an appointment on the 4th in London to know if he is entitled to housing
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
He has no money and no food and can’t pay the fare to London or back
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
He is homeless and disabled, and Westminster refused to talk to anybody on his behalf
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
He will have some emergency food tomorrow from Slough foodbank, but he needs good advice and support
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
@AnitaBellows12 @BobEllard1 If he’s looking for lift there & back DM me.
— Mac (@Abu1916) August 1, 2016
@Abu1916 @BobEllard1 Great. That is the practical help he needs. Thank you
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
@AnitaBellows12 @BobEllard1 No Prob someone let me know & I’ll arrange it 👍
— Mac (@Abu1916) August 1, 2016
Make Twitter do what it is good at doing, and help Fred
— Anita Bellows (@AnitaBellows12) August 1, 2016
Please help by
Following @fredjallen and sending him a message of support
Tweet to @CityWestminster and tell them to provide Fred with the support he is entitled to
He was lucky it wasn’t southwark. I was in a similar situation and the housing manager had to force his staff to deal with me but I was still thrown against the wall as I entered Bournemouth Rd homelessness unit and when I saw that the receptionist had failed to tell anyone i was there I decided to take a photo of the clock to prove I had shown up. The receptionist and security guard who had been giggling and smirking at me looked panicked and as I went to take the photo I felt a blow from behind which threw me over the reception desk. I asked for the CCTV images as this was a serious assault. They destroyed the images and admitted it but I had some video on my phone.
I feel so saddened that this has occurred to anyone muchless a vunerable disabled person. Iam so glad he has Anita Bellows assisting him. How can we help Fred, I live in Birmingham?
Hi Ruth, probably the best thing you can do is contact Fred on twitter (@fredjallen) and ask him, and you can also send a message of support to him on there
The system which is supposed to be in place in this once civilised country is now broken and must be fixed. Councils, the NHS, and the DWP still have a duty of care and a responsibility towards people in need. Please stop buck passing, do your job, take responsibility and for pity’s sake if nothing else, HELP THIS MAN !
This is one of the most horrific stories regarding a disabled person I haveheard in a long time. Westminster council should be ashamed of themselves. Anyone can become homeless at any time. Is there no compasion, no humanity today? I am completely disgusted at the lack of proper support from Social work or the hospital. They must have been aware this guy had no where to go? I appreciate the nhs is in turmoil but putting a disabled person out in the street in the early hours of the morning is unbelievable. Thankfully the weather was mild. Is this what society has become? Thanks to the kindness of those two people, the guy might get some help to get accomodation and to appeal the dwp’s decision to stop his DLA.