Leeds mum-of-three put in emergency accomodation during coronavirus pandemic

Diane Birkby, from Armley, was waiting to be rehoused by Leeds City Council due to damp and black mould making her previous home unlivable.

Her three-year-old daughter has severe lung problems and is at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, therefore should be in isolation for 12 weeks.

Diane says she was unable to contact the council to arrange temporary accommodation last week, leaving the family at risk of homelessness during the pandemic.

But Leeds charity Vulnerable Citizen Support (VCS) stepped in and paid for emergency accommodation at a bed and breakfast for two consecutive weekends.

The council said it is working 'tirelessly' to help people in emergency need and that Diane refused temporary accommodation - which VCS says was only offered in Birmingham.

Diane has since been offered and accepted a provisional home, but she is concerned that other vulnerable families will be left without support.

The 29-year-old said: “If it wasn’t for VCS, the council would have left us with nowhere to go, when we’re in the middle of a pandemic and my three-year old daughter should be self-shielding for 12 weeks because of her lung problems.

"If councils must put the homeless into accommodation in this crisis, how am I not a priority when I’m on my own with three children?”

VCS said it has seen a spike in people needing help during the pandemic and volunteers have delivered food parcels to over 100 families and 40 rough sleepers in Leeds in the last week.

Homelessness advisor Dame Louise Casey asked all local authorities to house rough sleepers by the weekend, so communal spaces could be closed to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

But Hayden Lee, director of VCS, argues that there are still many rough sleepers left vulnerable in Leeds.

Hayden said: "Diane's case is just the tip of the iceberg, and it has taken significant intervention to get her this far.

"There are still families in precarious living situations and despite the government's directive to accommodate everyone on the streets, there are still a huge number of forgotten homeless out there in Leeds.

"We are trying to help these guys on the streets and families like Diane's but our shelves are starting to run bare, so we are relying on donations from the public."

The council says it is working hard to ensure the most vulnerable people in Leeds are given 'absolute priority'.

Councillor Debra Coupar, executive board member for communities said: “Due to the current pandemic, we are experiencing an unprecedented demand for housing advice and support.

"Our staff have been working tirelessly over the weekend to provide for people in emergency need, including this family. We are doing our best in these challenging circumstances to ensure that the most vulnerable are given the absolute priority.

“Whilst we do not comment on the circumstances surrounding individual cases, we can confirm that temporary accommodation was offered in this instance and was refused.

"Officers will be in touch with Ms Birkby and will continue to work with her to ensure appropriate accommodation and support can be found as soon as possible.”