Homeless woman forced to sofa surf for three months after Sheffield Council worker left job.

Sheffield Council has been found responsible for delaying a woman’s application for homelessness assistance.

A homeless woman’s mental health deteriorated after being forced to sofa surf for three months due to delays in Sheffield Council’s processing of her support application, according to a report.

It comes as numbers reveal the council is accepting fewer homelessness applications in Sheffield, with a reduced proportion of homes requesting assistance.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman determined that Miss X was forced to sofa surf for three months after the case officer who first handled her application departed the authority.

Miss X informed the council that she was “threatened with homelessness” after being told that she needed to leave the property where she was staying.

This means that the council is under a legal obligation to assist her in finding housing.

She said she could sofa surf for a short period of time, but after the case officer who first handled her application departed the council, her case slid between the cracks, resulting in a three-month delay in processing.

Miss X was forced to sofa surf at this time since she did not have a place to dwell, which she stated “affected her physical and mental health.”

Within one month of the case being re-allocated and the council accepting the main housing duty, Miss X was provided a property and rehoused.

The council stated that Miss X’s application was delayed due to a backlog of homeless cases.

The Ombudsman is pleased that the council has undertaken service changes to reduce the backlog and better serve future applicants.

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