Family refused a home (From Free Press Series)

Family refused a home

A YOUNG mum has criticised Torfaen Council for taking away her priority housing card.

Natalie Powell, aged 21, of Pontnewynydd, has two children and is currently living with her mum and stepfather in a two-bedroom terrace house in Freeholdland.

Despite the overcrowded conditions Miss Powell says the council has refused to re-house her and her two sons Jack, aged two, and Tyler, aged six months.

"I was given a priority housing card two years ago when I had my first child," she said.

"I have now had my second child and the council took my priority card off me because I would not stay in Newport Hotel, a hostel in Newport.

"I spent one night there and left because some people staying there are on drugs and there are problems with fighting and doors banging all night."

Miss Powell explained the council's social services department even advised her not to stay at the hostel and she is desperate to find a home of her own.

"At my mum's I have got the two children in one room with me and I have to climb over the beds to put the baby in the cot. The council says the house is not overcrowded because the baby's cot can be kept in the living room."

A spokesman for Torfaen Council said: "Following a presentation to the Homelessness section Miss Powell was issued with a priority card to move under the Homefinder scheme to a three bed property anywhere within Cwmbran in June 2005. Despite applying for ineligible properties her priority card was extended in order to secure alternative accommodation.

"Miss Powell's priority card was withdrawn in January 2006 after Miss Powell failed to reside at accommodation secured for her and was advised of the consequences. Notification was sent to her outlining her options.

"In relation to overcrowding, council policy is that all requests from applicants seeking a priority card are assessed in line with the Housing Act 1985. Under this, all habitable rooms within a property must be taken into account and children are considered within applications. Miss Powell had not asked to be assessed on these grounds. If an applicant moves into a property and therefore statutory overcrowding is caused intentionally, the policy is not to grant that applicant a priority card.

"Miss Powell has been registered for re-housing for 16 months, with average waiting times for accommodation for which she is applying around three-and-a-half years to five years minimum."