NFDC accused of failing to help homeless couple as temperatures plummet again
NEW Forest District Council has been criticised for trying to send a homeless woman back to Southampton despite her claiming to have fled the city to escape an abusive ex-partner.
Kayleigh, who did not give her full name, has been on the streets of Lymington since last May with her new partner, Drew Goddard, and their dog.
They were living in a car in the town centre during the freezing weather earlier this month and now, with temperatures dropping again, Drew said he has been left “speechless” by NFDC’s refusal to temporarily rehouse them.
An NFDC spokesperson said it was in contact with the couple and trying to “reconnect” them with Southampton City Council, from where they are originally, despite Kayleigh’s fear of her ex-partner.
Drew told the A&T: “NFDC didn’t house us during the last cold period when it was down to -4C some nights, and they’re still not helping now.
“Me and my partner are some of the few people on the streets who are not addicted to drugs or drink but the police are constantly turning up and harassing us when we’re just sat by Tesco.
“NFDC keep saying that we don’t have a local connection here but Kayleigh has a brother who lives in Hythe – I’m speechless they think that doesn’t count, to be honest.”
According to homelessness charity Shelter, councils can refer people back to an area where they have a “local connection” – unless there is a risk of domestic abuse or violence there.
Drew said he fled Southampton with Kayleigh around three years ago.
The couple were living rough in a car park in Christchurch until early last year but moved to Lymington after they were made to feel unwelcome.
One of the few sources of support for Drew and Kayleigh in Lymington has been Watches of Distinction owner Giles Waite, who bought the couple a second-hand car to sleep in and paid for them to stay at a hotel for nine nights earlier this winter.
NFDC has told the couple it is “not in a position to offer any further accommodation”.
Giles said: “I take issue with the council over this – we’re not talking about getting them premium accommodation, just humane accommodation when the temperatures dip so low.
“They’ve been sleeping in a car in minus temperatures. As far as I know, by law the council doesn’t have to help. But from a moral point of view they should be at least giving them shelter in extreme conditions.”
He added: “Just from a humanitarian point of view I wanted to help them.
“No one knows how their life is going to turn out. I’ve had to sleep in a car in minus conditions when I got stuck on a roadside once and it almost killed me – no one chooses to do that to themselves, believe me.”
During periods of extreme cold, housing authorities must provide facilities for rough sleepers under the national Severe Weather Emergency Protocol.
An NFDC spokesperson said: “New Forest District Council applies the Severe Weather Emergency Protocol when necessary, and has offered to support the couple reconnect with their home local authority.
“The council is in ongoing communication with them and the local community to help them resolve their housing situation.”
