Christmas in a squalid bedsit (From The Argus)

Christmas in a squalid bedsit

6:00am Saturday 23rd December 2006 in

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A young mother and her three-week-old baby are facing a bleak Christmas in a squalid bedsit.

Kerry Hoeppner, 20, and her so-far unnamed child are living in a single, cold and damp room in Hove with no central heating.

There is no bath so the only place she can wash the baby is an adult stand-up shower or a sink. The shower and toilet rooms are so small that when the she uses them, she has to leave the baby on his own.

Brighton and Hove City Council says the accommodation is acceptable and it cannot rehouse them.

Miss Hoeppner is estranged from her family and recently split up with her partner of five years, the baby's father.

The 25-year-old student from London visits when he can but can offer no financial support.

Miss Hoeppner said the bedsit was not suitable for her needs.

She told The Argus: "I am worried about leaving him. He doesn't fit in the shower - there is no room for me to take him in. It is cold so it takes me ages to get him off to sleep. I feel I have no help and support at all."

Miss Hoeppner, who gave birth on December 2, has visited the council's housing office at least eight times over the last eight months.

She said she was under the impression she would be rehomed when the baby was born but has now been told that will not happen.

She receives £25 every other week in housing benefit. She has been living on maternity pay from her job as a home care support worker but money is running out. Her rent, excluding bills, is £370 a month.

A council spokesman said: "We have spoken to Ms Hoeppner on a number of occasions and are very aware of her situation. We refute absolutely her claim that we promised her council accommodation when her baby was born.

"Her accommodation has been inspected by our environmental health team and is considered reasonable to occupy. We agree that it needs a permanent, affordable source of heating and we will be taking this up with her landlord.

"We also recognise that the lack of a private bathroom is unsatisfactory and she has been given a priority banding on our housing waiting list.

"Unfortunately there are currently a large number of people in greater housing need on the list so she is unlikely to be rehoused in social housing in the near future.

"However, we would be happy to help Ms Hoeppner to find a suitable property in the private rented sector.

"That said, she has also informed us that she is currently at risk of eviction. We have told her that our homeless team will make sure she is not left without a roof over her head if this happens and that they will work with her to ensure that she finds alternative permanent accommodation."