Eviction-threat Bristol mother fears for disabled children
A Lockleaze mother of two disabled children fears she could be evicted from the home she shared with her grandfather, who recently died.
Shani Wood, 31, and her children, Aaliyah, 12, and Shantay, six, moved into William Wood's three-bedroom council house in Hogarth Walk about a year ago.
Miss Wood, a senior care assistant, moved into the house to help look after her grandfather as he battled cancer and escape her dilapidated property down the road.
Mr Wood, 75, died on October 6 and now Miss Wood is facing an eviction order to vacate the property. Miss Wood, who also lives with her partner Mathew Williams, 36, a teacher, says she feels depressed and wants security for her family.
Aaliyah suffers from autism and compulsive behaviour, while Shantay has chronic lung disease, a collapsed right lung and has been under the care of Great Ormond Street Hospital since she was born at 29 weeks.
Miss Wood told the Evening Post: "My grandfather's house meets the needs of my children. We were living in a condemned property down the road, which needs many repairs. I refuse to live there due to the health and safety of my children.
"I just want to secure a decent home for my children. There could be an eviction order on me at some point soon. My grandfather's house is safer; there is no damp. My daughter is quite isolated because of her socialisation skills and loves going in this garden. My old house has damp coming through the back door, the door doesn't open properly, there is damp and mildew on the windows, the walls are made of cardboard, the garden has ant mounds, which we can't get rid of. It isn't safe for my children."
Miss Wood says she has been offered no help and advice from Bristol City Council. She said: "I feel depressed and I just want it sorted. I want to stay where I am."
Council spokeswoman Katharine de Lisle said: "Shani has requested a review of her 'band', which is used to prioritise applications for council properties, based on her family's needs. This review is underway.
"It would be unfair to other people on the housing waiting list to let someone move into a property without following the usual application process. The system has been designed to prioritise people with the greatest need."
2 Comments
by tracey thomas, bs7
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 11:53PM
“what an idiot u r james tandy i have been in contact with this family for years they r hard working professional parents the state pay for nothing never have done their house is condemn ready to be demolish they had the right to buy took from them back in august for this reason would u not want for the health and safety of yr children to be yr priority the only help this family gets is the medical team and family that already support them so don't feel sorry for these children feel sorry for yr self as u have no idea what u r talking about. it make me angry how people like yourself makes comments like that, they wanted to buy and fix up the house their self not aloud to do that cause it condemn the council wont do the repairs cause its condemn so what you do mr tandy live there with your children when the rain fall in ceiling's collapse plaster fall of wall when it rain foundation subling still lived there with seriously ill children when all your right have been took from you i dont think so i would also like to add these parents have never claim any money from the state they work hard at the jobs they do and that inclues the best for their children so therefore if that means giving them a decent roof over their heads then i am all for that by the way they are paying two lots of rent on both houses”
by James Tandy, BS6
Monday, December 07 2009, 6:50PM
“as a mother she should have prepared for this eventuality.
it's the children i feel sorry for.
doubtless she'll expect the state to provide for them”