Investigation Report 200801931

Overview In April 2007, the complainant (Ms C), the mother of four children, was made unintentionally homeless from her home in a village some distance from Perth. Ms C and her partner applied to Perth and Kinross Council (the Council) for rehousing. The family were first accommodated in a bed and breakfast guesthouse in the village but were later allocated the temporary let of a Council house in Perth in August 2007. Ms C and her partner were anxious that disruption to their children's education was minimised. Ms C stated that when she made enquiry of the costs of transport to the village for two of her children, she was told that her outlay would be met. Specific complaints and conclusions The complaints which have been investigated are that: (a) Ms C was not properly informed directly by the Council about the travel costs for two of her children (not upheld); (b) when Ms C asked a NHS Health Visitor working with homeless families, she claims she was assured that travel passes would be issued for her children but that she would have to meet her own costs of accompanying those children (no finding); and (c) the Council's decision to fund Ms C's children's travel costs from the time of her complaint failed to address the substantial costs she had already incurred (not upheld). Redress and recommendation The Ombudsman recommends that the Council inform him of the outcome of their reassessment of policy. The Council have accepted the recommendation and will act on it accordingly.