A Scots woman has hit out at her local council after she was evicted from her home and had her belongings thrown out, including scan pictures of her babies who she never got to meet.
Gillian Rooney, 43, had been living in a two-bedroom flat in Bellshill for five years and says she was handed an eviction notice from North Lanarkshire Council in February 2020.
She was evicted after the council accused her of not paying her £1500 rent arrears, but Gillian shared documents with Glasgow Live showing £31 had been going out of her monthly Universal Credit allowance to pay the balance.
Gillian says it was a "heartless" decision to make her homeless at the height of the coronavirus pandemic - but North Lanarkshire Council say she was offered other accommodation.
She said: "I am sofa-surfing going from friend to friend and have been doing that for the last three years now. I feel like a burden on people.
"My mental health has been through the roof and this has taken its toll on me. I’ve got stress related psoriasis which has flared up - it’s one thing after another.
"I can’t get a private let because the agency is contacting the council and they are saying I’m not good for the rent. It’s been nothing but a fight with them.
"I feel drained and my hair is falling out. I’ve not seen my son in near enough three years because he’s in Wishaw and can’t get here all the time."
Gillian says £5000 worth of belongings were allegedly thrown away after the council refused to deliver it to her aunt's home in Motherwell due to the pandemic, and is calling on them to give her a new home and reimburse her for the belongings she lost.
She added: "There were two scan pictures amongst my stuff which I can’t replace. They were my two dead children, the kids I didn’t get to meet and I have lost them.
"They don’t realise the consequences and impact it’s had on our lives. It’s heartless.
"I’ve been complaining for the last couple of weeks and I have put in a homeless application and they said they will investigate last week.
"They called me yesterday (March 1) to say they won't investigate and I made myself intentionally homeless.
"I am actually raging and trying my hardest to fight back the tears. I am in limbo and don’t know what to do or where to do.
"I am fighting a losing battle with this council."
A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “Our former tenant owed considerable rent arrears built up over a number of years. Despite repeated attempts to resolve this issue and numerous repayment arrangements being agreed and then unfulfilled, we were left with no alternative but to pursue legal action and a decree for eviction was granted by the Sheriff.
“Our housing officers were in regular contact with Ms Rooney over several months to arrange delivery of belongings left behind in the property. No agreement was reached, and the items were subsequently disposed of.
“Ms Rooney has been offered temporary accommodation which has been turned down. We will continue to help anyone requiring accommodation and to fulfil our statutory obligations.
“All tenants are required to pay their rent and meet the terms of their tenancy agreement. We have in place a rent assistance fund which offers support to tenants who are struggling to pay their rent during the cost-of-living crisis. Anyone struggling should contact their local housing office as soon as possible.”
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