A cash-strapped Lewisham mother has spoken of her despair as she and her children face their second eviction in two years.
Sarah Shaw, 52, and her four children were ejected in 2021 from their Downham home of 11 years, under a Section 21 “no-fault” eviction notice. They have since spent almost two years in dilapidated “temporary” accommodation in Lambeth, but now face a no-fault eviction from that property as well.
There's no 'Mr Shaw' mentioned, I see. There hardly ever is. So who's keeping them? Reader, you know. Don't you?
Sarah struggles to find work because a rare skin condition makes her allergic to the sun and to lots of substances commonly encountered in indoor workplaces, such as soaps, oils and cleaning products.
She receives £949 per month in benefits, from which she must pay £469 towards the monthly rent on her mouse-infested temporary flat, a short walk from Oval station.
I can't help but think that money would go further elsewhere than London...
Sarah’s oldest child, 23-year-old Shane, has depression, anxiety and PTSD. They were supposed to start a two-year course of intensive psychotherapy in 2021, but after being placed in Lambeth they were no longer eligible for the service.
A 23 year old is 'a child' now?
Sarah’s other three children, all still in education, faced a 90-minute commute to school or college every day – but it was important to her that they not have to leave all their friends behind.
More important than being able to afford better living conditions? *shrugs* Oh, well...
5 comments:
If she is allergic to the sun - perhaps moving to Scotland would be a good idea? In some parts she could have an almost life.
Without even clicking on the link we all predicted what the family would look like didn't we? Generation after generation of benefit scroungers breeding more scroungers.
Jaded
Isn't it amazing that so many people are unable to make life improving decisions for themselves? Alway expecting others in so called authority to provide for them. Ultimately those of us who made better choices in life footing the bill. I wonder how these poor folk would fare in real hardship, such as our parents and grandparents did through depression and a world war followed by severe rationing.
Why should we (the taxpayer) contribute anything to her and family? Or at most, 12 months of dole until she got another job.
There is no reason that society at large should be on the hook for her problems (if indeed they actually exist).
If do-gooders want to help her, they can contribute to a homeless shelter and/or food bank. The rest of us can spend our hard earned money on something more useful.
"If she is allergic to the sun - perhaps moving to Scotland would be a good idea?"
Hey, I've just come back from a lonf weekend in Edinburgh, and it was lovely!
"Isn't it amazing that so many people are unable to make life improving decisions for themselves? "
Because they've never needed to, the benefit 'safety net' being more of a venus fly trap?
"There is no reason that society at large should be on the hook for her problems (if indeed they actually exist)."
You're right. There isn't.
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