Anger as ‘vulnerable’ Fife family housed in rooms over pub
A Fife councillor has demanded an investigation after a homeless recovering alcoholic and his family were given rooms above a pub.
The blunder was uncovered when one of the man’s relatives contacted Labour’s Mark Hood to complain.
He has written to Fife Council chief executive Ronnie Hinds to lodge a formal complaint over what he called a “catalogue of errors.”
Mr Hood, who represents Lochgelly and Cardenden, told The Courier that he was dumbstruck when he heard what had happened.
He said, “I couldn’t believe it, to be honest with you.
“This is a really vulnerable family. They were put in two rooms above a pub.”
He added, “They didn’t even have access to laundry or cooking facilities. They were having to sterilise bottles (for feeding a baby) in a sink in the shower room.
“It is just not acceptable.”
The family has since been given a three-bedroom semi-detached home in central Fife.
Mr Hood said, “Not only was the temporary accommodation inappropriate for someone with this man’s condition, he and his partner were forced to share the two rooms with a four-month-old baby, a 16-month-old toddler and a seven-year-old child.
“If it had not been for the goodwill of their extended family, I dread to think what could have happened.”
“Failings in the system”
The councillor said he spoke to officials from a number of the agencies that were involved in trying to help the family. These included the local authority’s housing, social work and education departments.
Mr Hood said, “They were all involved with this family, yet no-one seemed to be empowered to resolve the issue until I escalated it to the appropriate executive directors, after being contacted by a health worker who was concerned about the living conditions for the young children.
“I am particularly angry that the eldest child has still not been able to return to school with her friends because the family’s temporary accommodation is too far from the school.”
He added, “As a councillor, I have a responsibility to ensure that failings in the system that allowed this to happen are addressed so that no other family has to face such shocking circumstances.”
John Flaherty, team leader for tenancy and accommodation support, said, “Our main priority is to get people back into accommodation when they become homeless.
“We then try to move them on as soon as possible to more suitable accommodation.
“In this case there seems to have been a longer than normal delay.”
He added, “We are pleased to say that the family has now been rehomed in their own furnished flat and the child will now have access to school transport.”
He said they would review the circumstances to ensure any similar difficulties are avoided in the future.
