Single Mum Endures Months in Mouldy Flat with Broken Door by Council
A young mother and her baby face unsafe living conditions in Lewisham
Lewisham, UK, Mould, Housing, Single Mum, Council
Lewisham: A young single mum, Phoebe Smith, has been living in a flat that’s falling apart. She and her one-year-old daughter, Isabella, have been stuck in this mouldy place for months.
Phoebe, just 21, moved into this temporary accommodation on Lee Road after applying for help from Southwark council. She needed to escape her overcrowded mum’s flat.
When she arrived, the front door was smashed, and the walls were covered in mould. It was a total mess, with rubbish everywhere. She felt so down about it all.
She immediately told the council about the broken door, but it took them five months to fix it. Meanwhile, the rest of the flat remained in disrepair.
Phoebe has had to carry her baby and all their stuff up and down the stairs every day. It’s tough, especially since Isabella is starting to crawl. She often has to leave her daughter alone while she navigates the rubbish.
Sometimes, the hallway is blocked with furniture and e-scooters, making it hard to even get out. Phoebe worries about fire safety, feeling trapped in her own home.
After a year of bidding for a permanent home, she’s losing hope. It feels like the council just wants to give her a roof, but she needs a real home.
When the council heard about her situation, Councillor Helen Dennis expressed concern. She promised Phoebe would be moved to a new place soon and that they would address the issues with the landlord.
However, with so many families waiting for homes, it’s a tough situation. The council is working on building new homes, but the wait can be long.