HOMELESS Pippa McMahon does not know where she and her two daughters will wake up tomorrow morning.
Pippa, 32, Charley, five, and 10-year-old Kirsty have been moved FIVE times in the last four months, each time at a moment's notice.
Pippa, a dinner lady at St Ambrose RC Primary School in Chorlton, was made homeless after the break-up of a relationship. She lived with her parents up until June but she had to leave because there was no room.
Since she hasn't got the money for a deposit on a private address, Pippa applied for a council house. But until they re-house her, homeless housing bosses have put the family in a series of temporary accommodation, which they can move them from at a couple of hours' notice.
The family was first moved to a hostel in Cheetham Hill. Shortly afterwards they were moved on to a hostel in Chorlton, then flat in Withington, then back to Chorlton and finally to Ardwick.
Pippa, who is telling her story to the M.E.N. to highlight the plight of homeless families in the run-up to Christmas, says that she has been attacked by drug addicts and has had to clean up the nappies and syringes discarded by other residents in the places she has been moved to. At one address, Pippa says the family weren't even allowed visitors.
At their current address in Ardwick they are housed on the third floor, despite the fact Charley suffers from acute asthma and bronchitis.
Pippa said: "We live out of binbags and it doesn't make me feel very proud as a mother - I never thought I'd have to put my kids through this.
"I have no idea when I'll be able to get a council house, I just keep getting fobbed off.
"I have a medical condition that means I suffer from fits. But when I was in the hostel I couldn't go into hospital for tests, because if you stay out for than more two nights you lose your placement.
"My family live in Chorlton and it's where the kids go to school and where I work. My biggest fear is that I will pass out and have a fit and the kids will be on their own with me, miles from the rest of the family.
"My daughter Kirsty never used to be a bad-tempered child but now she's always crying. Both the girls cry themselves to sleep at night because of our situation.
"They wake up so early in the morning to get to school that they fall asleep on the bus home each night."
Susan Triggs, assistant director of housing for Manchester council, said: "We are sorry that Ms McMahon and her family have been moved a number of times, we try hard to ensure that this doesn't happen but, in this case, it wasn't possible.
"If Ms McMahon wants to make another appointment we will be able to talk to her about the different options that are available to her."
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Homeless mum moved five times
November 03, 2008
Pippa McMahon with two of her daughters, Charley and Kirsty.
Showing comments 1 to 12 and replies | View All
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (03/11/2008 at 11:27)
Cappa (03/11/2008 at 15:08)
Marc (03/11/2008 at 17:43)
I hope things work out for you and your daughters Pippa. I was homeless for a couple of years and it was difficult enough as a single bloke. God knows how I would've coped if I had kids.
LogicalLion (05/11/2008 at 00:23)
I appreciate there is a severe deficiency of council housing, but more should be being done to help families who find themself in this position through no fault of their own. No child should have to be homeless in Britain, we are in 2008 not 1908.
Good luck Pippa.
Viewer of Life, Stockport (05/11/2008 at 07:05)
The plain fact is; people take advantage of the welfare state. False claims for everything from housing to unemployment etc. This leads to some people suffering and sadly this lady is feeling the suffering. So everyone currently falsely claiming incapacity benefit, housing support, unemployment benefit, hang your head in shame. You think it is a victimless crime, take a look at this lady and her family…she is your victim
michelle warren (05/11/2008 at 11:06)
Shade of green (05/11/2008 at 11:52)
Viewer of Life, Stockport (05/11/2008 at 12:21)
Shade of green (05/11/2008 at 13:15)
Viewer of Life, Stockport (05/11/2008 at 14:07)
I hope all works out for the best.
Ace Shakespeare , manchester (06/11/2008 at 10:38)
Oh yes they do? My sister came back into britain after living abroad for twenty years she went to the local council within a few days of arriving she was told that she had the same rights to housing as a immigrant,she was housed in ardwick within three days .?my wife and myself was on the council waiting list for over nine years...work that out. we had four kids in a two bedroomed flat????????????
michael moulding (06/11/2008 at 10:56)
However, every story that I read regarding people and families who find themselves homeless I ask myself a few questions which may explain why more and more families are finding it difficult to access social housing.
Firstly, as I understand it, there is no such thing as Council housing in Manchester.
All housing stock in Manchester were transferred by Yes campaigns to local housing companies which means that all housing in Manchester is now managed by Registered Social Landlords.
This means that whilst local authorities have a statutory duty to rehouse homeless families, local councils have little control over rehousing because the properties are no longer owned and/or managed by the Council.
As I understand this is the case in Manchester.
Over the next few years and beyond, unless government policy changes significantly you will find the plight of the family mentioned more and more common, ultimately because, those that are currently housed adequately, voted to take away Council housing into housing companies beyond the direct control of local councils all for the sake of a new kitchen and/or double glazing ! A Council worker and still a council tenant in Salford ( Mike)