A young family from Rotherham is facing the grim prospect of homelessness after being served an eviction notice for their home on Brunswick Street, Thurnscoe. Amy Winter, 26, and Joshua Thain, 27, along with their three young children—Sky, five, Daisy-Mae, four, and 18-month-old Lexi—are due to be evicted on Monday following a court order issued in January. The reason behind the eviction is several months of unpaid rent, but the family insists that the local authorities have failed to provide them with any real assistance in their time of need.
The situation is particularly distressing given Amy’s current circumstances. She is five months pregnant, and the couple also has a fourth child, nine-year-old Macauli, who currently lives with Amy’s mother due to a lack of space and stability. Both Amy and Joshua are on Universal Credit and have been struggling to make ends meet since the death of Joshua’s mother, Victoria Robertshaw, who was the original tenant of the property. Victoria sadly passed away in August after contracting Covid-19, and her death has left the family in a state of emotional and financial turmoil.
Sanctuary Housing, which owns the property, pursued legal action after months of missed payments. The court ultimately ruled that the family must vacate the premises by January 31. However, Amy and Joshua argue that Barnsley Council has been aware of their precarious situation for some time and has done little to prevent it from escalating to this point. They say that the council’s response has been inconsistent, often giving them mixed messages about what support is available and what steps they should take next.
Amy shared her frustrations in an interview with the Huddersfield Examiner, saying, “It’s that bad we don’t go out or anything because we’re worried. I’ve asked my family if they can help, they can’t help with accommodation because they’re only living in one bed and two-bedroom houses. The only person who is trying to help is my partner’s uncle, but he lives down in Somerset.”
The couple is pleading for help, accusing the council of dragging its feet instead of stepping in to provide emergency housing or clearer guidance. “I think Barnsley Council need to get off their backside and figure out what they’re going to do, instead of just telling us one thing and next thing a different thing,” Amy added.
This case has sparked debate in the community, with many questioning whether it is ethical or compassionate to evict a family—especially one with young children and a pregnant mother—under such dire circumstances. The housing crisis and rising cost of living have left many families vulnerable, and some feel more should be done by local authorities to prevent evictions that result in homelessness.
What do you think? Is it right to evict a family in crisis, or should there be more support systems in place to prevent situations like this? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
