Emergency Accommodation provided by the Sevenoaks Council 📵 No Connectivity, NO Mobile Signal for Calls An ǀ NO SHOWER

When the Sevenoaks Town Housing Department provided me with emergency housing after I faced domestic abuse, I was in a critical and vulnerable situation. During the process, I was asked whether I was feeling suicidal. At the time being new to this, I didn’t understand the relevance of the question.

When I arrived at the remote location in Rochester, Strood area, I faced No Mobile Signal for Calls And No Connectivity – the way to silence and exclude. The Emergency Accommodation walls and windows allow 0 signal from any mobile company inside. How is it possible in the advanced economy? At the time I thought it was a minor oversight, but it turned out to be a systematic measure to silence those in need!

 

No Mobile Signal for Calls or Connectivity – the way to silence and exclude

By placing residents far away and ensuring they remain unheard, the council creates a deliberate system of isolation, leaving vulnerable individuals without the tools to advocate for themselves. Connectivity is not a luxury—it’s a basic necessity for safety, support, and recovery. The emergency housing they provided lacked any mobile signal for calls or connectivity. The energy-efficient windows and thick brick walls blocked all communication. This isolation created numerous challenges:

No Mobile Signal: A Barrier to Safety and Recovery

• No Emergency Access: I could not reach emergency services if needed, leaving me feeling unsafe and unprotected.
• Cut Off From Support: I was unable to stay connected with family, friends, or professional networks who could provide emotional and practical help.
• Mental Strain: The isolation, combined with the already overwhelming situation of fleeing domestic abuse, added to the emotional burden, leaving me feeling abandoned and neglected.

Why Connection to the world Matters?

and Why i have to keep my Front door OPen most fo the time?

read more & see for yourself _____Click HERE!

… more on Strategic Isolation Tactics:

In my case, the council placed me in emergency accommodation in Rochester, Strood, fully aware that the property lacked mobile connectivity. This effectively cut me off from any form of communication. This isolation created a situation where they likely knew that, at some point, I would become too frustrated or exhausted to continue pushing for solutions to the many issues I faced.

A System Designed to Deter and Exhaust

Circular Blame Game

When I reached out to the Sevenoaks Council Housing Department regarding the absence of a mobile connection, they stated that they were unable to address the issue. Instead, they redirected me to the property management company. However, the management company asserted that they were powerless, as the council had sanctioned the accommodations. This perpetual back-and-forth led to a frustrating cycle where no party assumed responsibility.

2. Unsafe and Impractical Living Conditions:
   The isolation left me with no way to respond to the council’s urgent, lengthy emails sent late at night. But the council demanded immediate replies. Despite my efforts to address these issues, the council and management company continued to deflect responsibility. At times, I was forced to leave the door open to get a signal, even though the area was unsafe.

Emergency housing is supposed to be a safe haven for those in crisis. Instead, the lack of mobile connectivity turned my accommodation into a place of further despair. Communication is a basic necessity, and its absence can exacerbate an already vulnerable state of mind.

What Needs to Change

1. Ensure Connectivity: Emergency accommodation must guarantee access to mobile networks for calls and internet use.
2. Prioritize Mental Health: Housing decisions should consider the emotional and mental well-being of residents. Council should ensure that Residents in emergency situations are not placed in isolating environments.
3. Audit Housing Standards: The council must reassess properties used for emergency housing to address barriers like poor signal caused by building materials.

The Intentional Neglect by by the Sevenoaks Town Housing Department

Exploiting Isolation

The accommodation had no mobile signal due to energy-efficient windows and thick brick walls. This effectively left me cut off from contacting essential services, such as mental health support, Citizen’s Advice, or the police. The council was fully aware of these conditions, yet they approved the accommodation without addressing these critical issues.

Manipulative Communication Practices:

Adding to the distress, the council sent me urgent, lengthy emails late at night, demanding immediate responses. This deliberate timing—paired with the knowledge that I had no reliable way to respond—seems designed to shift responsibility back onto me, while ignoring their role in creating these conditions.

No Practical Solutions Allowed:

Despite raising the problems repeatedly, the council ignored my concerns. The management company claimed they were powerless to act because the council approved the accommodation. The contract I was given even prohibited installing basic solutions like a Wi-Fi router.

Unsafe Living Conditions:

In desperation, I had to leave the door open to catch a signal during the summer, even though the area was unsafe. This compromised my personal safety—a direct consequence of the council’s negligence.

The Sevenoaks Housing Department must recognize the harm caused by isolating emergency accommodation and take immediate steps to ensure residents have access to communication. For individuals recovering from trauma, being connected to the world isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline.

The Sevenoaks Housing Department provided me with emergency housing following a critical domestic abuse situation. However, instead of offering relief and safety, the accommodation further isolated me from the world due to a complete lack of mobile signal or connectivity. This was not an oversight—it reflects a deliberate and systemic failure that appears to suit the council’s processes at the expense of vulnerable individuals.

I think it’s obvious that the absence of connectivity 📵 suits the council for several reasons, especially in the context of emergency housing and systemic neglect. 💡 Here’s why this might benefit them: 🏠

---

Reduced Accountability ❌

• Harder to Communicate Issues: Without reliable connectivity, residents face significant barriers to raising complaints, requesting updates, or seeking help from external organizations like Citizen’s Advice or legal services. This makes it easier for the council to avoid accountability for poor housing conditions.
• Delays in Response: When residents cannot respond promptly to emails or make timely calls, the council can argue that the resident failed to comply with procedures or deadlines, potentially shifting the blame back onto them.

---

Increased Frustration and Exhaustion

• Encourages Residents to Give Up: By placing residents in isolating accommodations, the council may create conditions where individuals feel too frustrated or overwhelmed to continue pursuing their complaints. This reduces the workload and pressure on the council to address issues.
• Psychological Impact: Isolation, combined with urgent demands for communication, can leave residents feeling powerless and hopeless, reducing their ability to advocate for themselves.

---

3. Simplified Bureaucratic Process

• Easier to Close Cases: If residents cannot communicate effectively or meet the council’s demands for information, the council may close cases or mark them as unresolved due to “non-cooperation,” streamlining their own administrative processes.
• Less Oversight: Isolated individuals are less likely to attract external attention or escalate issues to watchdog organizations, making it easier for systemic neglect to persist unnoticed.

---

4. Cost-Saving Measures

• Cheaper Housing Options: Accommodations lacking proper connectivity may be cheaper to secure or maintain, allowing the council to save costs while still appearing to fulfill their duty to provide emergency housing.
• No Investment in Improvements: By refusing to address connectivity issues, the council avoids spending money on upgrades like Wi-Fi installations or signal boosters, further cutting costs.

---

5. Control Over the Narrative

• Limiting Advocacy: Connectivity allows individuals to reach out to advocacy groups, media, or legal professionals to highlight systemic issues. By isolating residents, the council reduces the likelihood of these problems gaining broader attention.

Restricting Legal Challenges in Sevenoaks Emergency Housing: My Experience

During my time in emergency housing provided by the Sevenoaks Council Accommodation Department, I faced significant challenges due to the complete lack of mobile and internet connectivity. This isolation made it incredibly difficult for me to seek legal advice or representation. Without reliable communication, I was cut off from the support I needed to address my housing situation and advocate for my rights.

This lack of connectivity left me feeling powerless, unable to challenge decisions or hold the council accountable. My experience highlights a critical flaw in the system: the absence of basic communication access not only isolates individuals but also limits their ability to pursue legal recourse.

I don’t know if others have faced similar challenges, but for me, this isolation was dehumanizing and left me feeling forgotten. Ensuring connectivity in emergency housing is vital to safeguarding the rights and dignity of those in crisis.

The image shows an interior view a living space at 2 Central Road, Strood, which serves as emergency accommodation approved by the Sevenoaks Council.

The main door is open, leading directly to the outside, revealing a street and a building in the background. Inside, there’s a small kitchen area with a built-in microwave and oven, as well as what appears to be a washing machine tucked below the counter.

This open-door setup highlights MY uncomfortable situation—opening the door for a signal or exposing ME as a resident to the cold and potential safety risks.

… lack of connectivity).

By keeping the door open, the outside signal is able to penetrate, enabling minimal connectivity for basic communication. However, this solution comes at a significant cost. During colder months, with temperatures dropping to 0°C or lower, keeping the door open allows cold air to pour in, making the living environment unsafe and uncomfortable. It also exposes Me as a resident to potential security risks, as the open door provides easy access for strangers to enter the property.

inadequacy of the property for emergency accommodation approved by the Sevenoaks council

This makeshift solution highlights the inadequacy of the property for emergency accommodation, as residents are forced to choose between basic connectivity and personal safety, as well as warmth. This underscores the lack of foresight or care from the authorities who approved such living conditions.

Keeping the door open during the summer was a temporary workaround that allowed me to access mobile signal as the thick walls and energy-efficient windows of the accommodation completely blocked connectivity.

However, this “solution” was far from ideal—it exposed me to security risks and made me feel unsafe. Despite raising this issue repeatedly with both the council and the management company, I was dismissed. Instead I was caught in a circular blame game, with no one taking responsibility for resolving the problem.

Now, as winter temperatures drop to 0°C or lower, keeping the door open is no longer a feasible option.

The freezing cold air makes the accommodation uninhabitable, leaving me completely cut off from communication and emergency services. This situation highlights the severe inadequacy of the accommodation, where even basic connectivity is sacrificed, forcing residents like me into isolation and vulnerability, especially during critical weather conditions.