A SINGLE mum-of-two has been forced to move house three times in one month and fears her kids aren’t safe.
Harlie Swann, 29, has been living in temporary housing for 13 years, along with her kids; Frankie, 8, and Finnlie, 2.
The Croydon resident was first moved into temporary accommodation after having Frankie at 21.
Harlie told MyLondon they lived there for seven years but after Frankie’s ADHD diagnosis, the home was no longer suitable.
Finnlie also has complex learning difficulties and Harlie fears “constantly moving around” is taking its toll on them all.
The family are due to move into a property in Lambeth this week marking the third time in a month Croydon Council have ripped their stability away from them.
Harlie said the constant moves come down to discovering each home is unsafe – for anyone to live in, let alone children.
In a previous home in West Norwood, the family were exposed to sewage spurting up the sink, persistent mould, and damp.
Due to the extent of the problem, environmental health assessors had to get involved.
Luckily the next house and latest home was deemed “fine on the paperwork”, Harlie explained.
However, when they moved in they discovered a major leak problem and improper fire-safe windows.
According to Harlie, the council said “don’t unpack we’ll find you somewhere else, then they found me this place in Streatham this Monday (September 30).
“It’s an absolute nightmare,” she said.
A neighbour even told Harlie that the previous tenants put up with the same problems yet the council still deemed it safe to move into.
Harlie, who experienced being homeless as a teenager said: “I saw things that no 16-year-old should have seen by living in these horrible places, and around a lot of concerning people.”
One night, she even slept in a police cell because she was so young.
She continued: “I feel like I’ve gone through so much but still, nobody is willing to give me and my kids somewhere stable and safe to live.”
Harlie’s eldest, Frankie, who has regular ADHD therapy needs extra care right now as he cannot attend school.
She said: “He needs that permanent stability.
“I go to Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) three times a week with him, he is in intense therapy.
“There’s a shortage of ADHD medication at the moment, which means he’s not taking his medication.
“The school have said they can’t have him there any more because he had an issue with the teachers.
“Because of this I’m having him stay with me at home, but this is all going on at home and they’re expecting me to deal with all of this.
“It’s too much.”
Temporary accommodation or interim accommodation is organised by the council and exists for people who are at risk of becoming homeless.
People will live there until a permanent home can be found.
Harlie said: “They can make me move out in 24 hours because it’s classed as interim emergency accommodations.
“It’s not even temporary accommodation, it’s the lowest of the low basically.
“If they then decide I’m moving you again I will have to pack up all my stuff again.
“I’m in a constant state of not knowing what the hell I’m meant to be doing.”
Harlie feels she is experiencing “one problem after another” and the family “need to be in a set routine”.
She continued: “The kids also get a lack of attention as well, because my time feels like it’s constantly filled with emails to the council.”
Harlie feels the council don’t truly understand the trauma her family are experiencing.
She said: “I have so many letters from the GP, CAMHS, the school and social workers.
“Nothing like that seems to make a dent with them, nothing seems to help with me getting a more permanent place to stay.
“I don’t care where they place me, they could place me anywhere.
“However, because I’ve got them it makes it that much bit harder, especially with all of their requirements.”
In an attempt to secure a forever home, for the past nine years Harlie has bid for council housing via the local bidding system.
Each time she has been left empty handed.
She said: “I don’t understand why I haven’t been given that yet.
“I know everybody’s circumstances are different but it hurts.”
Harlie is also a trained teaching assistant and has qualified as a parent group leader for local children’s centres but due to Frankie’s needs and her housing situation, she’s had to put her career on hold.
She told MyLondon that having to move so much is putting pressure on her financially.
Having to pay for three moving vans in two weeks has left her with “no money left”, she said.
She hopes her new home will give the family the stability they need but fears it could result in yet another disappointment.
Harlie said: “I’m a good tenant, I’ve always looked after my properties.
“There just must be a mark against my name, because I constantly feel like I’m at the bottom of the pile.”
A Croydon Council spokesperson said: “We are sorry to hear about Ms Swann’s experiences in her previous temporary accommodation.
“We take this seriously and will be investigating, while supporting Ms Swann with her housing needs.
“Due to the severe shortage of affordable accommodation in London, it is unfortunately not uncommon for people to remain in temporary housing longer than we would like.
“We are working hard to improve the quality of all temporary housing.
“Through our Approved Landlord Scheme, we are working to raise standards, and monitor the quality and condition of private landlords’ properties, to ensure they are in good condition.”
TEMPORARY housing is somewhere to live in the short-term. Some people might have to live in temporary accommodation for years before councils make a final offer of housing.
Here are a list of problems which could cause the council to move you.
If this happens, Shelter recommends to:
Your council should offer your alternative housing if your home is deemed unsuitable.
