Help Prevent Sanctioned Family From Losing Their Home on 10/04/2017

Help Prevent Sanctioned Family From Losing Their Home on 10/04/2017

A disabled Mother who lives with her two teenage daughters in Salisbury, are due to lose their home through no fault of their own.

On the10/04/2017 sadly bailiffs will be coming to remove them from their sanctuary, the very place their happiness has been built for many years. I find this heartbreaking as this is their family home and within the walls so many memories have been made. They truly feel safe here and love where they live. The children have both grown up in this home, have many friends and do not want to leave.

The only reason the arrears have occurred is due to the Mother sadly being sanctioned three times, due to no fault of her own the rules are very strict. Each time a sanction is implemented the time period of the sanction is longer than the last. This results in suffering for the families involved and has the power to destroy even the strongest of people, that I have witnessed myself through my work. It is also why I am on this platform asking for your help. I am hoping as a team we can change their current situation, and help pave a better future for them all.

Now even though the final court proceedings didn't go in favour of the family, it is down to the discretion of the Council as to whether the family have to leave, and usually there is a condition of paying off all the arrears.

I have personally contacted Wiltshire Council and they have kindly agreed that if I can deliver this money to them by the above date then the family will be safe. I have just narrowly missed out on two trustee meetings of the charities I usually approach for assistance. This is why I am coming to you for help.

Yes a stay of eviction could be done at the last minute, but I feel at this time it is a risk if the proceedings do not go to plan. To be honest this family have been through so much with Mums health, which has been deteriorating lately (she has a titanium plate through her spine, suffers mobility issues and great pain) I truly feel enough is enough. Please can we try and give them a fresh start so her daughter can concentrate on succeeding in her exams and do well. The other daughter is suffering from anxiety due to this situation, this is why I feel it has to be ended for good.

The property has recently been decorated by a local project called The Full Bellies Project (Based In Salisbury) and this was supported by The Biscuit Fund (A small national charity). The house looks amazing and most of the materials that was used were recycled items, with new paint bought by the fund.

We are protecting the identity of this family so they can move on from this and build a brighter future. All receipts will be uploaded to this site to verify where the funds have gone on Monday 10th April 2017.

Please can anyone who is donating use their PayPal account if you have one, the reason we have decided to go for this option is: GoGetFunding has explained to us this is direct and secure. If we decided on the banking method it can take a few days for card payments to clear and time is not on our side. Even if a small amount it will help please believe this xxx

If you do not have a PayPal account please can you assist us by sharing this page?

If you could copy the link and share it everyday to all pages you are linked to, explaining why it is important to you, that would be AMAZING. Do this EVERYWHERE you see fit, thank you so very much <3

What is sanctioning?

Sanctions are a punishment imposed on claimants when The DWP feel you have not met the requirements for looking for work. Or if you miss an appointment due to being ill and do not have a GP letter that is another way for decision makers to sanction you. See below for a good breakdown from The Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

https://www.jrf.org.uk/report/welfare-sanctions-and-conditionality-uk

I personally work as a support worker and have seen families become homeless, and sadly know many have taken their lives due to this cruel punishment. The last thing anyone wants is for this family to be living out in the cold surviving in cardboard boxes (Like the image above) Sanctioning was recently highlighted in the film “I, Daniel Blake” which was directed by Ken Loach. If you haven't seen it as of yet please watch it. In all truth these sanctions needs to be abolished and I have campaigned for this (Alongside many others) as well as protecting as many as I can. Until change is enacted by our government to protect those who suffer from sanctions, all we can do is work as a team to minimise the damage to those involved, assisting where and when we can no matter how small that maybe.

Together we have the chance of doing something truly amazing here and keep this family safe.

I believe, I hope you do to x

Jessica McCarnun