Housing (Contains abuse)

[RAWWR]

Hey there, I don't often post on the forums, but i'm really struggling at the moment, i'm having some housing issues and I really don't know what to do.
So I have been in and out of homeless hostels for about 3 years, i'm now in mind housing, where you are allowed to stay for 2 years. I moved in feb 2014, into one of their shared houses. In August I got into a relationship with a guy from my church, which turned abusive, I finally got out of it in september, but agreed to be friends with him for the sake of church, and we both volunteered with the homeless outreach that they ran there. One night he was over at mine, and well, basically he raped me. I reported it to the police, and mind decided that they should move me, but the only space they had available was the self contained flat right next door, which I moved into in december. The problem is he is now hanging around in my street and I am too scared to leave the house, because he doesn't know I have moved and if I go out and he see's me he will know.
I have been looking into moving but it just seems impossible, I don't know what to do, I can only be here for another 10 months anyways, what am I supposed to do, i'm going to end up homeless again. I just don't know what the best thing to do is, there is absolutely nowhere for me to go...

[Eir]

Have no advice. Just wanted you to know I'm thinking of you

[Margo]

Ok.

Go and talk to mind and they will help you prepare a statement to show the police. There may be no evidence to support this but it will probably scare the **** out of him.

I would also tell the priest. I know this is something that is the last thing on your mind but do you honestly think your congregation needs a persistent rapist?

Now I understand the Christian forgiveness thing. But this is about safeguarding and your safety. Mind will help and be great I am sure. However the longer you leave this the worse it will become.

Keep a diary of times when you see him. Make the appointment with mind this week and take it from there.

Its a ridiculous situation to have put him next door and I'm afraid your loyalty to him via the church is a misguided one.

You can still forgive him spiritually but you do not have to share the same breathing or living space.

Very best of luck!

[RAWWR]

Hey, thanks for the advice guys, I have been calling the police each time I see him, but they aren't doing anything because he has every right to be in my street. The original incident was reported, but dropped due to lack of evidence, and the police contacted the church during the case due to him working with vulnerable people, I also no longer go to the church anymore, while I continued to go once out of the abusive relationship, after the attack I felt it were better to stay away. Unfortunately i've lost a lot of friends from church, and none of them will now speak to me, but if that's the way they want to be then so be it.
I'm sorry I think there has been a misunderstanding, he isn't next door, I am next door to where I used to live and he knows that address, so is obviously looking for me there, but it wouldn't be hard to find me.
My support worker at mind, i'm afraid, is being absolutely useless, she just keeps telling me that I need to try and forget it because he isn't doing anything wrong and besides, he might not even be there for me...

[Epicene]

I'm sorry you're going through this, it sounds so stressful. To go through an assault is one thing, but to cope without the stability of friends or a home must be really hard.

Are you being offered any support other than from your Mind support worker? It sounds like you have quite a lot of unmet needs that a mental health team would be better placed to help you with. Sorry not to have much advice but my thoughts are with you and I hope posting here helps you feel slightly less alone.

[RAWWR]

Hey, not really, I have a counsellor throught the amber project but there isn't much she can do to support me. I have an appointment at the CMHT next month, but she is refusing to bring it forward at the moment.