A family of eight struggles for stability after months in cramped housing, facing challenges in finding a suitable permanent home
Folkestone: A homeless mom of six is feeling really desperate for stability. Roxanne James and her partner, Jonathan Metalle, have been crammed into a two-bedroom bungalow for six months now.
They lost their council house in May 2023 after facing crime issues and had to stay with Roxanne’s brother in Sunderland for a year. Finally, Cheshire West and Chester Council stepped in and put them in a hotel for a couple of months before moving them to their current place in Northwich.
The Limes is meant to help people like them, but it’s still tough. Roxanne’s family is on the housing list and has the highest priority, but finding a four-bedroom house is nearly impossible. With kids aged seven to 16, they really need more space.
Roxanne feels like she’s at her breaking point. Her 11-year-old daughter is sharing a room with three siblings and feels guilty about their situation. It’s heartbreaking to see her struggle with embarrassment at school.
To make things worse, their 16-year-old son, who has ADHD and autism, decided to move in with his uncle to help the family’s chances of getting a bigger home. Roxanne is devastated by this decision.
She and Jonathan are sleeping in the living room to give their 14-year-old son a room, which is also filled with their belongings. Roxanne has been bidding on properties but keeps losing out. She believes the council doesn’t recognize their homelessness started back in May.
The council admits it’s tough to find a suitable home for such a large family. They say Roxanne has been given options, but the size of the family and their pets make it a long process. Large families often wait over a year for a four-bedroom place, even with high priority.
For now, they’re stuck in this temporary accommodation, which is better than the hotel, but it’s still not home. The council is working with Roxanne to find a more permanent solution, but it’s a challenging situation.
