We are ‘invisible’ victims of a housing catastrophe

Published: 29 July, 2010

Open letter to Camden’s Housing Division

• COULD I please ask you that when the housing association evicts me and my son in August, you will take my child’s best interests into account?

As you know, for the past 18 months, not only have I written to you on his behalf but I have also asked MPs, councillors, council leaders and managers to help us with my deeply desired hope for a secure, affordable home.

The housing division has ignored letters from mental health professionals, doctors, my son’s headteacher and deputy headteacher and we are now awaiting a bailiff’s order, very fearful of what you might do with us.

The policy to prioritise under five’s is incredibly punitive to my seven-year-old.

There should be no caps on children. You say it is a government policy, not yours, but that just infuriates me.

That we are already statutorily homeless and have been for the past six years is most unfair given that we can’t claim any extra points; not for insecurity of tenancy, or vulnerability, or even overcrowding

We, the statutorily homeless, truly are invisible.

I can’t help wondering if it is how Councillor Maya de Souza wrote: “It seems that in quite a few cases, when residents continue to pursue their complaints, they are labelled as difficult or unreasonable” (This tragic death highlights need to review procedures, June 17).

Have I diminished my son’s chance of a secure home because I am deemed “difficult” or “unreasonable”?

I am losing faith, believing we are being “treated unfairly” and “discriminated against”, and feel “bullied” and “threatened” with choices not in our best interests.

I have been told by so many: “If we house you, we’ll have to house everybody else.”

Is that what you said to those you have housed? The two parents with one child family I recently met for example, who waited two years with 484 points, another only one year with the same.

My son and I have waited six with 351. How can you tell me this system is not leaving us behind?

I know your job is very difficult deciding which “number” to house; for we are numbers aren’t we, those of us waiting?

Not human at all.

I’m not intelligent as some of you think, but I’m not entirely stupid either.

I know there is a crisis in the borough bordering on a catastrophe.

I have sent a postcard to Parliament with Jennyfer Spencer’s name on it, to honour her death.

I’ve sent a closed letter to the Prime Minister asking him to meet me.

I’m trying my hardest here, not only for my child, as you can see.

I hope I do not stop breathing like Ms Spencer.

I thank you for rehousing us but please do consider my child’s best interests when you do so.

NATHALIE RAFFRAY