Many people, especially in today’s economy, are unable to pay their rent or provide basic care for themselves and their families. This young family has been given only seven days notice to leave their house, and it appears that they will wind up on the streets.
Amy Winter, 26, and Joshua Thain, 27, have three small children. Amy is currently expecting their fourth child. However, the young couple is on benefits and has not paid their rent for several months. The couple was told to vacate their home by January 31st. As a result, they are now waiting for them to break down the door.
“It’s so horrible that we don’t go out or do anything because we’re worried. I’ve asked my relatives if they can help; they can’t help with housing because they only have one and two bedrooms. The only person attempting to assist is my partner’s uncle, who lives in Somerset.”
Nobody, according to reports, wants to assist them.
Amy told The Sun that the housing association threatened they would “throw them on the streets”. According to Barnsley Council, they offered the couple options, but they declined because it would require the family to split up.
“I think Barnsley Council need to get off their bottom and figure out what they’re going to do, instead of simply telling us one thing and next thing a different thing. After all that’s happened with Josh losing his mother, I replied, ‘I ain’t dividing my family just because you want me to.’
Sadly, Sanctuary Housing owns the house, and none of the couple’s names appear on the tenancy agreement. They claim to have been living there with Joshua’s mother, Victoria Robertshaw. Nevertheless, she died from Covid in August of last year at the age of 45.
The Council claims to have done all possible.
According to Yorkshire Live, a spokeswoman for Sanctuary Housing stated that the decision was not made on the spur of the moment. The pair has been living in the house for some months without paying rent.
“On Monday January 31, an Outright Possession Order for this home was given by a judge at court which demands the tenants to evacuate it within 7 days. The proceedings included considerable rent arrears that had accumulated as a result of no rent being paid for several months. “We have been talking with Barnsley Council to ensure the residents can access other accommodation as soon as possible, so that this home can then be allocated to a family who are currently waiting on Barnsley’s housing list,” she says.
Jenny Platts, a councillor from Barnsley, added to this. “Our housing team is continuing to work with the couple, providing them with housing advice and assistance in considering alternate accommodations.”
