A COUPLE have condemned the housing system after they and their three daughters have been left sharing one room for three months.

Jamie Coleman and Nikki Davies became homeless along with their three daughters, aged 10, four and one, in August after Jamie was made redundant.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Council found the young family a room with two bunk beds at a bed and breakfast in the town.

But almost 12 weeks later, they are still sharing the cramped living space.

Nikki, 27, faces a daily bus journey to Portland, where the two older girls attend school, while Jamie, 29, who has now found another job, goes to work.

The family visit Nikki’s mum’s home in Littlemoor to cook food and wash.

The situation has left Nikki suffering depression and the children exhausted after having to get up at 6am every day to travel to school, Jamie said.

“We are trying our best to keep going for each other and the kids, but it’s not been easy.

“The bed and breakfast where we are staying has been good to us under the circumstances, but it is next door to a bail hostel and we are getting woken up at night by people shouting in the street.

“It’s not a place for children.”

Nikki added that the couple have been getting frustrated with the borough council after being given conflicting advice.

“We were originally told to pay £5 per night while the council paid the remaining £95. Then we got a letter saying we should have been paying £56 per week so we’ve suddenly found ourselves in 11 weeks’ worth of debt.”

The couple have tried to bid on a two-bedroom council house but were told they were not allowed as this would be overcrowding.

Jamie said: “It’s ridiculous because that would be a lot more space than we have at the moment. Nikki and I would sleep on sofas in the living room if it came to that, just anything to get out of the situation we are in.”

He added: “We don’t want to rent privately. We have had bad experience before and we could struggle, in any case, because of our credit history.

“There is always the threat of a private landlord telling you to get out with no reason given. We don’t want that. We want somewhere settled we can bring up our children.”

The couple now fear they will be spending Christmas in the same situation.

Nikki said: “We have been condemned and just treated like scum by the council.

“We are trying our best.”

Appreciate difficulty

COUNCILLOR Kevin Brookes, briefholder for Housing at Weymouth and Portland Borough Council, said: “We are unable to comment on individual cases. The council appreciates it is difficult for any family in temporary accommodation and we strive to help and advise those who are on the housing register in finding new accommodation.

“Our ability to assist will vary according to a number of factors such as the household composition and a family’s housing history.

“If you are a tenant and looking for further help and advice please contact the borough council on 01305 838000 or visit dorsetforyou.com/housing”