Child slept on council building floor after staff 'went home' leaving homeless family 'locked' inside for 4 hours
SWNS
2023-02-02
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A family looking for help from the council claim they were abandoned and "locked" inside a civic centre - with one child forced to sleep under a desk.
Tiffany Powell, 26, and partner Steven Bartlett, 29, were stranded for four hours after they say staff left them inside and locked the doors.
The couple documented their ordeal inside Harrow Council's Civic Centre, Greater London, with their children Elliot, five, and Vanessa, two, and posted it online.
The family say they were evicted from their rented home on January 25, after complaining about "mould, dampness, leaks, water in electrics and multiple fire hazards."
Video footage shows the reception area of the building empty, with the doors locked, and the family stranded with no food while Elliot napped under a desk and Vanessa in the pram.
Emergency accommodation was eventually found for the family that night at around 9 pm, after eight hours at the Civic Centre, four of them being 'locked' inside.
Once housing officers were able to facilitate the emergency accommodation at a Travelodge with a bed and breakfast, a security guard arrived to let them out.
After spending the night in the emergency accommodation, the family returned to the Civic Centre in the morning and were able to secure another night in a hotel.
Tiffany is a stay-at-home mother looking after both kids and Steven has been signed off from work due to injury.
The pair were renting from a private landlord who, they say, didn't maintain the property adequately, citing "mould, dampness, leaks, water in electrics and multiple fire hazards."
Tiffany said she was evicted for raising concerns over the state of the home, which was followed by an unaffordable rent increase.
The family are trying to secure permanent accommodation in the local area, but have been offered a place in Northampton, East Midlands, over 50 miles away.
Tiffany added: "Harrow council have done nothing apart from making unrealistic offers to premises in Northampton taking my son and daughter away from their poorly father, and taking my son away from his educational support, which has already diagnosed him with anxiety and made progress with it."
The family have become victims of the cost of living crisis with the soaring inflation and increase on the price for everyday items.
The family are currently staying at Steven's parents home, while they figure out how to proceed.
A spokesperson said: "We can confirm the family were not locked inside the Civic Centre.
"While the video appears to show this, the family were freely able to leave and were being supported by our security team while housing officers were helping find them suitable emergency accommodation.
"Officers are continuing to support the family during this stressful time.
“Later this month we will be closing the Civic Centre and opening a new customer centre at 6 Gayton Road for people at risk of homelessness or with concerns about vulnerable residents."
Tiffany Powell, 26, and partner Steven Bartlett, 29, were stranded for four hours after they say staff left them inside and locked the doors.
The couple documented their ordeal inside Harrow Council's Civic Centre, Greater London, with their children Elliot, five, and Vanessa, two, and posted it online.
The family say they were evicted from their rented home on January 25, after complaining about "mould, dampness, leaks, water in electrics and multiple fire hazards."
Video footage shows the reception area of the building empty, with the doors locked, and the family stranded with no food while Elliot napped under a desk and Vanessa in the pram.
Emergency accommodation was eventually found for the family that night at around 9 pm, after eight hours at the Civic Centre, four of them being 'locked' inside.
Once housing officers were able to facilitate the emergency accommodation at a Travelodge with a bed and breakfast, a security guard arrived to let them out.
After spending the night in the emergency accommodation, the family returned to the Civic Centre in the morning and were able to secure another night in a hotel.
Tiffany is a stay-at-home mother looking after both kids and Steven has been signed off from work due to injury.
The pair were renting from a private landlord who, they say, didn't maintain the property adequately, citing "mould, dampness, leaks, water in electrics and multiple fire hazards."
Tiffany said she was evicted for raising concerns over the state of the home, which was followed by an unaffordable rent increase.
The family are trying to secure permanent accommodation in the local area, but have been offered a place in Northampton, East Midlands, over 50 miles away.
Tiffany added: "Harrow council have done nothing apart from making unrealistic offers to premises in Northampton taking my son and daughter away from their poorly father, and taking my son away from his educational support, which has already diagnosed him with anxiety and made progress with it."
The family have become victims of the cost of living crisis with the soaring inflation and increase on the price for everyday items.
The family are currently staying at Steven's parents home, while they figure out how to proceed.
A spokesperson said: "We can confirm the family were not locked inside the Civic Centre.
"While the video appears to show this, the family were freely able to leave and were being supported by our security team while housing officers were helping find them suitable emergency accommodation.
"Officers are continuing to support the family during this stressful time.
“Later this month we will be closing the Civic Centre and opening a new customer centre at 6 Gayton Road for people at risk of homelessness or with concerns about vulnerable residents."
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