A mum has told of her frustration after being forced to share a bed with her son for nearly two years due to a council blunder.
Sophie Collins has revealed that she has been sharing a bed with her six-year-old son for years, after her local council wrongly accused her of deliberately making herself homeless.
Ms Collins has been forced to move back into her mother’s house in Erith, Bexley, since December 2020.
She has revealed that living in her teenage bedroom has become "stressful," as she has to be in bed by a certain time not to disturb her son.
The smaller space has now become an inconvenience for both her and her son, Frankie, who has autism, the mum says.
Speaking out about her desire to be re-homed somewhere larger, she told MyLondon : “He definitely needs a house and a garden because he's just constantly on the go.
"It is very rare you’ll see Frankie sit down for longer than five minutes unless [something] grabs his attention. If it doesn't grab his attention, he's like a bull in a china shop.”
Ms Collins went on to explain that in January 2020, she was asked by her landlord if she wanted to renew the contract on her old flat, as the owner planned to sell it to Bexley Council.
The mum said that she informed them that she would think about the decision, but a month later she shockingly received a letter through her door informing her that she had to leave the property.
She continued to say that she feels she has been excluded from conversations between her former landlord and the council.
Moreover, she added that has never seen any proof “in black and white” that she declared herself homeless.
She said: “It’s very frustrating. I just don't understand it. If only someone could just sit me down and explain why they took their word over mine.”
Tragically, the mum says that Frankie has not reacted well to the change, saying: “He's been excluded from school twice for hitting out. He's trashed the classroom. He’s just very violent towards his peers and his teachers, which is the same at home.”
Following this, a council worker visited the current home Ms Collins resides with her son at, and went on to inform her that the room is not suitable for them both.
The mum explained: “She wanted to put it down as overcrowded. With Frankie's medical needs as well, she said it’s a risk because he’s limited to space in there and Frankie needs a lot of space.”
After being placed in a temporary house for nine months before moving into her mum’s home, Ms Collins said she has often sent letters and forms for housing support to her local council.
Shockingly though, the council have frequently told her that their housing duty towards her has “ended” due to her homeless status.
Speaking out about the situation, Gemma Szymanski, Ms Collins' sister, said: “I keep saying it’s unfair, but it is. She should be able to have a little flat somewhere where Frankie's got his own bedroom and she can go to her room every evening and just relax.
"But she's constantly with Frankie so she gets no downtime. And it's frustrating, getting no help.”
Ms Collins says that the situation she currently finds herself in is affecting her a lot.
In fact, she revealed that she has to go to bed at 8pm every night to not disturb Frankie.
She said: “I just want to be settled. Have my own front door, have Frankie in a school that benefits his needs, and just be happy. That’s all I'm asking for. I just want a roof over my head that I can call my home.”
A Bexley Council spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that they do not comment on individual cases.
