Susan Curtis, a 75-year-old woman from Romford, east London, finds herself living in fear of becoming homeless with no proper cooking or washing facilities. Curtis has been faced with homelessness due to the increasing numbers in London’s housing crisis. The pensioner suffers from poor health and has a lung disease and requires a hip replacement; however, she finds it difficult to care for herself. Unfortunately, she now lives in this small hotel room without cooking facilities, almost entirely on biscuits and fruit until she visits her daughter for a proper dinner.
The number of homeless people in England reached 1,768 in 2010, but since then, it has increased dramatically, rising up to 120% higher than 2010, reaching 3,898 in 2021, according to the latest figures. Susan Curtis is one of an estimated 183,000 people in London living in temporary housing provided by their local authorities, and the small hotel room is the best Havering Council were able to offer her.
Being on a state pension and disability benefits, Susan Curtis is unable to afford rent alone for another private tenancy, and with the housing crisis in London, she is considered a risk by potential landlords. Several council waiting lists list Susan Curtis as number 2,500 for a permanent home. However, she fears being forced to accept an unsuitable property or being thrown out on the street.
When asked if Curtis could move in with her daughter, she said no as she doesn’t want to be the reason her daughter is evicted from her council home. She also doesn’t want to add any extra pressure on her daughter, who is undergoing cancer treatment. Havering council confirmed that Susan’s landlord asked her to vacate the premises, increasing this number to help resolve the housing imbalance in London. Despite the current situation, the council is investigating shelter accommodation for Curtis. Still, due to the scarcity of housing and high demand, it could take up to a year to find new accommodation
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
