South London Mum Spent £90 Daily Feeding Kids in Long Hotel Stay
A South London mother faced financial strain while living in hotels with her kids for weeks due to council delays in finding permanent housing
South London, UK, Domestic Violence, Kingston Council, Homelessness
South London: A mum, known as Miss B, has been through a tough time. After escaping domestic violence, she found herself and her kids stuck in hotels for 11 weeks. Can you imagine? That’s a long time to be living out of a suitcase.
During this period, she had to spend around £90 a day on takeaways because there were no cooking facilities. That’s a serious hit to the wallet, especially when you’re already dealing with so much stress. It really took a toll on her and her kids’ mental health.
The council, Kingston Council, admitted they messed up. They left her in temporary accommodation for five weeks longer than they should have. They apologized and even agreed to pay her £2,250 for the distress and extra costs she faced.
Miss B had reached out for help after being assaulted in September 2023. She thought she could stay with family while figuring things out, but the council didn’t take her homeless application seriously at first. It took a lot of back and forth before they finally placed her in a hotel.
Even after that, the council didn’t seem to act quickly enough to find her a permanent home. They offered her a place in May, but it was too close to where the abusers lived. That’s just not safe!
In the end, the ombudsman found the council at fault for their delays and lack of proper records. They were told to do better, and it sounds like they’re trying to improve their processes now.
It’s a tough situation, and it’s good to see some accountability. Hopefully, this will lead to better support for families in need in the future.