General Article Toxic housing crisis fuels a 700% rise in families forced to live in B&Bs

Topic Selected: Housing
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– here’s one mother’s story

 

“Ministers should hang their heads in shame.”

By Owen Bennett

Looking after an eight-month-old baby is a challenge for anyone, but Dian Walker is finding it tougher than most.

The mother-of-two was made homeless six weeks ago after falling behind with her rent, and now lives in a single room in a bed-and-breakfast with her baby and 11-year-old son.

The family has to share a bathroom with others in the B&B, including another family, which has two teenage children.

It is a far from ideal way to raise a family, especially as Dian’s son – who does not want to be named – now has to travel from Ilford in east London to Edmonton in the north of the capital for school.

The Sainsbury’s employee – who works part-time in customer service for the supermarket chain – is worried what the impact of the family’s cramped living conditions are having on her children, particularly her eldest.

“He doesn’t really like it,” the 33-year-old told HuffPost UK.

“It’s very uncomf...

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