Waltham Forest (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Homeless Walthamstow mum reveals she slept rough with toddlers after rejecting Waltham Forest offer of housing in Grimsby, raising concerns over housing crisis.
Because of the way her mother-in-law treated her, Sabrina claims that her home life was “tense” and “difficult.”
She claims that despite her battles with postpartum depression, she was expected to keep giving birth, and that the “overcrowding” at her in-laws’, who were also caring for three adolescent foster children, caused her stress.
Sabrina claims that she and her mother-in-law frequently had heated fights and disagreements, some of which resulted in physical violence.
One such dispute arose when Sabrina’s husband gave her a cat as a gift. According to Sabrina, she and the cat formed a close emotional attachment right away, but her mother-in-law wanted the cat taken out of the house.
Police were nearly summoned as a result of the “heated” fight that followed, according to Sabrina.
The young mother was then warned that if she did not want to have additional children, she would have to leave the residence.
When she and her small children were homeless on November 15th, the council quickly placed them in a hotel room in Ilford, where she remained until the last few weeks.
On Thursday, February 27, the council sent Sabrina a letter alerting her to an offer of housing in Grimsby. The letter also stated that the council would no longer be responsible for housing her if she declined the offer.
A housing officer referred to the lodging as “the only suitable property available” in a shared email.
They added:
“Whilst I understand your concerns…there is a severe shortage of rental properties in and around London, especially with an affordable rent level.”
According to Sabrina, she turned down the accommodation offer since it interfered with her oldest child’s nursery schooling and was far from her sister, who resides in an army barracks in Bournemouth.
The council informed her that the matter might be resolved by “daily WhatsApp telephone and video calls” after searching for housing close to her sister and failing to locate any privately rented sector houses “in or around the area of Bournemouth.”
Explaining her decision to reject the council’s only offer of housing, Sabrina said:
“It is not the cost of the property but where it is that the issue lies.
I cannot afford to travel anywhere south nor can any of my family or my children’s father travel up to me [in Grimsby]. It costs too much and takes up almost half of the day commuting. It is not realistic at all.”
She continued:
“If I become ill [with depression] then I have no support network around me to help.”
Sabrina claims that after being kicked out of the Ilford hotel on March 5th, she and her kids slept on the streets for two nights in two parks in Walthamstow before checking into a homeless shelter.
As of right now, The Echo is aware that the council has extended their offer of housing in Grimsby to Sabrina this week, along with emergency accommodation until the house becomes available.
Cllr Ahsan Khan, deputy leader and cabinet member for housing and regeneration, said:
“The council works hard to help anyone who approaches us at risk of becoming homeless.
All offers of accommodation are made in line with our policies, which are publicly available on the council website, and national guidelines. These are clear that when someone rejects an offer of suitable accommodation, we will not owe them any further duty.
As a property previously offered to her was still available, we were happy to re-offer that property again.
Unfortunately demand for local homes far outstrips the available supply. We only offer out-of-borough placements when there is simply no suitable or available alternative in the local area.”
He added that they have been in contact with Sabrina throughout this process and we have been able to arrange the re-offer of settled accommodation for her and her family starting from today, Thursday 13th March, with the offer of emergency accommodation until the property is available.
Since 2021, Waltham Forest has invested £20 million to fulfil its legal obligation to house homeless people who pose a risk. It frequently highlights the “chronic shortage” of homes in the borough and in London, which makes it challenging to place families near their support systems.
In 2023, the council temporarily accommodated 1,148 households, compared to 878 in 2022.
In the meantime, they own housing firms and London councils that have spent over £140 million purchasing homes to move homeless people out of the city.
Since 2017, more than 850 properties in towns and cities throughout England have been purchased by more than a dozen councils in the capital, including Waltham Forest, for a total of millions.
What are the main challenges faced by homeless families in Walthamstow?
The acute lack of reasonably priced housing options is the most urgent problem. Rents and home prices have risen quickly in Waltham Forest, making it challenging for families to find stable housing.
Concern over eviction from private rented sector (PRS) housing is on the rise, especially among families. If there is no other place to live, this instability may result in homelessness.
Numerous homeless families have complicated requirements, such as physical and mental health conditions, as well as histories of domestic violence. Specialized support services, which are frequently lacking, are necessary to meet these demands.
Families and other homeless people frequently lack access to basic facilities like showers and toilets, which exacerbates issues with hygiene and health.
Many locals report having difficulty getting the right services and advice, making the process of asking for aid complicated.