A Kirkcaldy single mum is “absolutely disgusted” at being forced to share a council bedsit with her 16-year-old son for more than a year.
Wynita Jackson, 39, and son Alex Bell, 16, have been living on top of each other in the tiny apartment in Kirkcaldy’s Harriet Street as they wait for a Fife Council house.
However, Fife Council said it had been working tirelessly to try to meet the family’s needs, but that Ms Jackson had requirements which narrowed down her options.
Area housing management lead officer Margaret Muir said: “Ms Jackson has quite specific criteria on what properties she will accept and unfortunately this has narrowed down the housing options available to her.”
Wynita said her housing problems started when Alex, who was in a residential school and in the care of social work, started to be allowed to stay with her overnight.
She said: “I told the council but that still never got us anywhere.
“I got him back full time last year but they have still left us like this.”
She said the council offered her a property but it wasn’t suitable.
This was a new build – something she has requested.
But it wasn’t on the ground floor.
The mum said she has serious health problems, and has been in and out of hospital and now cannot manage walking up and down stairs.
She said the situation was intolerable, with two adults sharing one tiny room.
“We are having to sleep in the one room.
“We are sleeping and eating there.
“It is ridiculous now – it is beyond a joke.
“Who would allow a 16-year-old to be left sharing a living room with his mum?
“He sleeps on the couch and I sleep on the bed on the other side of the room.
“There is no privacy and this cannot continue.
“I feel absolutely disgusted.”
Wynita, who said she had been told it would be the end of the year before she may be rehoused, is unable to work due to ill health – she has had large hernias and suffered from infections and asthma.
But despite that, she said: “The council just do not seem to care.”
Ms Muir added: “We have been working continually with Ms Jackson to try to meet her needs.
“We are currently waiting for her to give us a suitable time to visit her to continue our discussions.”
