Paying the price of taking responsibility (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Paying the price of taking responsibility

11:22am Wednesday 14th June 2006 in Letters

Sir.-Regarding the story "Homeless dad forced to live in his work van" in last Monday's Gazette.

I sympathise with this man as to how difficult and frustrating it is to find affordable rented accommodation in Basingstoke, as my daughter and her boyfriend of four years have found themselves in a similar situation.

My daughter has fallen pregnant and, although by accident, it is wonderful news, but also worrying and sad.

Both my daughter and her boyfriend hold steady jobs and have done so since leaving school/college, so I would not class them as irresponsible or as two of life's wasters.

They have had their names on the council waiting list for only a short time, but were left totally shocked and dejected following a visit to the housing department after finding out that she was expecting.

They were told they had no chance of being allocated a property because they were both working and considered able to find private rented accommodation or get a mortgage. They were told that if they both gave up their jobs, they would stand a better chance.

Although both working, the cost of renting privately was out of the question and, because they are both not earning enough, a mortgage is beyond them. They tried for a part-rent/buy but, during the process, the cost of the property went up and so out went their chance.

What hope do these responsible people have?

What really frustrates and saddens me is that here we have a decent couple who are willing to pay rent and be decent hard-working citizens. Yet they get a kick in the teeth while lazy, scrounging youngsters who have no respect, even for the property they are given for free, no moral standards and no wish to ever work sit at home with children by different partners, supping beer or taking drugs and generally expecting society to give them everything.

Do I sound bitter? You bet I do, as I, like a lot of hard-working people, are paying the way for such wasters.

I sincerely believe that we, as a society, the borough council and the housing associations have a lot to answer for.

On a final note, I have had to issue my daughter with an eviction notice, which broke my heart and went against all my principles, as she cannot live in a 2.5-by-four-metre box room with her boyfriend and baby.

So, maybe in a few weeks, we will see my daughter living in the back of an old van, expecting the delivery of her first child.

Melvyn Webb,
Basingstoke.