I’m a mum-of-three suddenly made homeless two years ago & we STILL have nowhere to settle… we’re living out of suitcases

A MUM-of-three who was made homeless two years ago has told of how she and her kids are still living out of suitcases.

Katie Collins, 36, says she and her youngsters haven’t been able to settle in their temporary accommodation – and she can’t cope anymore.

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Mum-of-three Katie Collins says her and her children still don’t have anywhere to call home[/caption]

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She said her kids are forced into cramped bedrooms in temporary accommodation – and have been for two years[/caption]

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Katie says her and her children are still living out of suitcases[/caption]

The Manchester mum said it was October 2022 when she and her children – now aged five, 12 and 15 – were booted out of their private rental under a section 21 ‘no fault’ eviction.

The young family were ‘temporarily’ put into emergency accommodation – a three-bedroom house.

But now, almost two years on, Katie and her youngsters are still waiting for a place to call their own – that they can comfortably fit in.

The mum says they’re living out of bags and suitcases and worry that when they unpack they’ll have to uproot their lives quickly all over again.

Katie says she feels “let down” by the Salford City Council.

She told MEN: “It’s affecting my life so much, it’s really difficult hearing the kids say they hate living here, it’s so stressful to me as a mum not being able to give them stability.

“I’ve been in tears with the temporary housing officer for hours on the phone. I’m having to put my whole life on hold. This place doesn’t feel like home.

“Every parent wants to spoil their kids at Christmas, I have to explain to mine that they won’t get much at Christmas because we just don’t have the space.”

Katie said she is waiting on hip surgery, and her five-year-old has “complex” medical needs.

The mum says she’s holding off getting the operation until they family are settled in an actual home, but that’s again up in the air.

She said she has to carry her daughter up and down the temporary house’s stairs, but due to her own health woes has to “bum shuffle”.

The 36-year-old labelled it “degrading”.

But for now, Katie says she just has to wait.

Salford City Council, said: “We appreciate the concern of those individuals facing housing challenges in our community. While we strive to support and assist all residents in need, our policy is not to comment on individual cases. Please be assured that we take all situations seriously and work diligently to address them appropriately.

“We understand families’ difficulties when seeking suitable housing, especially when faced with complex medical needs. Rest assured, we are committed to doing everything within our power to assist those in need of housing support.”

Not uncommon

The Sun has approached the council for further comment.

Tragically, it’s not unusual for mum’s to be stuck in horror living conditions.

One mum-of-two recently opened up about staying in a single room at a bed and breakfast.

Rose, 21, and her daughters have no choice but to see out the day-to-day cramped together in a south London accommodation.

Currently only able to work part-time while she studies to be an air controller, private renting isn’t an option for the single mum.

But times are getting tough as not having their own toilet and enough space to play is taking its toll on Rose’s five and two-year-old.

Every parent wants to spoil their kids at Christmas, I have to explain to mine that they won’t get much at Christmas.

Katie CollinsMum-of-three

She told Sky News: “My firstborn still wears nappies because in the middle of the night she can’t just get up and go to a shared toilet with all these people that she doesn’t know.

“My baby – it took her time to walk because she didn’t have enough room and she couldn’t use the baby walker.”

Elsewhere another mum said she had been sleeping in the same room as all her youngsters after waiting six years for a bigger house.

Manuella Akona, 33, lived in Knights Hill, South London and three of her youngsters had gone their whole lives without having a permanent place to call home.

The mum, who is on benefits, said her kids were sleep deprived and their council house was overcrowded with horror mould.

Manuella said this was the result of her and her children aged 15, four, one, and a seven-months-old, being forced to sleep in one tiny room.

She told South London Press: “I’ve had midwives writing to the council while I was pregnant, now doctors write to them for my mental health.”