Urgent appeal to help house a family

I am creating this fundraiser on behalf of my friend Lisa and her two children who have been homeless for 19 months.

Lisa became homeless when her landlord of 10 years had to sell the property. Lisa was bought as a 'live in tenant' by the new landlord who agreed to evict her through the courts so that she could get help with social housing, as she had just been made redundant from her job of 17 years. Although true to his word, he stated that the reason for eviction was for rent arrears as it makes the eviction process easier (harder to be argued in court).

Lisa approached our local housing authority who then placed her in a temporary accommodation which contained one double bed for her to share with her, at the time, 5 and 8 year old. She was in there for a year until the council came to the decision that she had made herself intentionally homeless. We appealed this decision and provided evidence to prove that the landlord did not want any money, however, they stood firmly on their decision and referred her to social services.

Social services provided Lisa and the children with a hotel for 3 weeks and during this time told her that they were going to find her a permanent home. After over a year of being homeless, Lisa thought she was finally getting the support her and her children so desperately needed but this was not the case.

Social services stated that they could no longer pay to accommodate the family in hotels and were also unable to assist with housing. I was asked by social services on 4th November if I could put Lisa and the children up for the weekend and look for a cheaper hotel so that they could assist again.

On Monday 7th November we contacted social services and they ended their duty of care to Lisa and the children. They have been staying with me ever since, I live in a 2 bedroom flat with 3 children of my own, so it has been a struggle to comfortably accommodate everyone.

Social housing told Lisa that although they are unable to assist with housing, they would help her with a deposit and first months rent if she were able to find a privately rented property, again today we have been told they are no longer helping with this.

After 19 months of fighting and relentlessly looking for a property we have finally found a Landlady that is willing to let her property to Lisa but we desperately need to raise the money for the deposit and first month's rent to secure the property by the 10th of February.

Lisa has not only lost her home but also her job as a carer which she absolutely loved and car since this battle began, this home would be the stability her and her children deserve and need.

Thank you for reading and thank you for any contributions!!