Hello, I haven't caught up with this forum for a while, so please forgive me if this question has been already answered.

I'm a male in my late 40s, long term unemployed but not yet claiming (long story why I didn't claim).

I'm not yet technically homeless but will be in a short time if I don't find a source of income or claim JSA.

At the moment I'm living in a sort of b&b/backpackers hostel in Birmingham (not a homeless hostel) and the owner doesn't really like the unemployed. If I should receive a brown envelope, he would probably kick me out (it has happened before to previous residents).

As I have nobody willing to take my mail, would a homeless charity take my mail, even if I am not registered homeless?

If so, can anybody recommend one in Birmingham? I know there are a few, but I'm not sure where to start and I feel very ashamed for doing that. I used to be an office worker and for me this is a new territory.

Many many years ago I lived in Glasgow and I met an unemployed man who would receive his mail at the Big Issue office in Glasgow. Do they still do this?

Sorry for the daft question.

If you prefer to remain anonymous, you can send me a PM. I check the Internet once a day. Thank you all.

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_advice/homelessness/homelessness_-_an_introduction/homeless_peoples_rights

The link above is for the "Rights of Homeless people" and might be worth looking at.

It might also be worth a call to Shelter - they have a free helpline 0808 800 4444

Reading their FAQ's I see that you can have a polling card sent to a day centre, hostel or friend. So it might be worth looking into that.

Another link to a website called HouseMate - They give some advice on where you can have mail sent - the Big Issue and Day Centres are two places.

http://www.housemate.org.uk/emergency/other-emergency-options/

Thanks CitizenB. Shelter and the CAB couldn't help me. I phone the Big Issue Foundation and they couldn't help me. I have eventually found a charity that can take my mail, albeit only for 28 days.

Thanks CitizenB. Shelter and the CAB couldn't help me. I phone the Big Issue Foundation and they couldn't help me. I have eventually found a charity that can take my mail, albeit only for 28 days.

Thanks for the update, this information will help others as well.

Bit of a nuisance you are only covered for 28 days, but it gives you a little breathing space. I will keep searching for other options for you.

Thanks for the update, this information will help others as well.

 

Bit of a nuisance you are only covered for 28 days, but it gives you a little breathing space. I will keep searching for other options for you.

I can renew after 28 days, but I have to convince them. It took me a while to persuade them. They said I didn't look like a proper homeless person. I said that I would be homeless if I don't claim JSA and even that might not be enough. We'll see.

My friend was street homeless about a year ago and the DWP made him sign on every day. There are no hard and fast rules to how the DWP will deal with you and will be situation dependent in many circumstances. I cant answer the question, lol, you'll have to phone the DWP. they have introduced 0345 numbers now which are standard rate from mobile. There is also a "0800 wizard" app for Google android operating system run mobiles, which will convert 0800 numbers to local rate on your mobile. Please be aware that numbers starting with "08", even "0800", may be chargable from your mobile, depending on the contract. If your unemployed and on a cheap contract, 0800 numbers are usually 50 p per min