A mother and her four kids are trapped in a drug-ridden tower in Stockport, struggling with tiny living space and dangerous conditions.
Louise says the conditions make life awful. This “party block” is no place for kids, she believes. She has a teen daughter and young twins. Her other girl is four.
Louise moved there in January 2021. The block sits near a busy road, on the town’s edge. At first, Louise rented privately. She lost her office job.
Being jobless made her homeless. She stayed with her mom to save money. The pandemic hit, making job hunting hard. She asked the local council for housing.
Stockport Homes manages the properties. Louise was told she could move after one year. That promise wasn’t kept after her twins were born. She feels stuck now.
Her 15-year-old needs quiet before school. Louise and her younger kids sleep in the other room. They use four beds due to night wakings. She reported issues quickly.
Louise saw drug things in public spots. Neighbors found used needles outside near a playground. Her daughter almost picked up a crack pipe, she said.
Louise believes it’s disgusting. Empty bags and pipes are everywhere, she says. People throw them from windows. A drunk man once wandered into her flat. She forgot to lock her door then.
Louise often finds people sleeping in the hallways. One woman overdosed on the grass outside, she mentioned. She found blood on the walls and floor. It led to a large blood pool in the lobby. The date was last October following an incident, she reports.
Stockport Homes cleaned it. They called it an isolated incident involving injury. Louise says loud music and shouting happen often. The police visit frequently.
Spit and urine are sometimes in the lifts, she stated. It’s a party block, not for families. Stockport Homes says they will not tolerate the bad actions. They say they address anti-social conduct.
Her teen won’t leave the flat alone. Other kids play in the halls; her kids can’t. Louise feels scared and embarrassed living there. She feels like a bad parent, too.
Louise complained often about the building and flat size. She also worries because her fifth-floor windows open wide. Her kids can climb onto the ledge. She must bid to move, she was told.
The exception is for violence or threats. She claims a move could take seven or eight years. Housing is scarce there. Stockport Homes said housing demand is very high.
Louise has the points she deserves, they told her. They deemed the flat adequate for her family. They think kids can share a room until age nine. Her living room counts as a bedroom to them. Louise would rent privately if possible. Rent and costs stop her.
Stockport Homes says resident safety matters. They want Ratcliffe Towers to be safe. They took action on bad conduct with orders and action. They understand Louise wants to move. But, they said demand for housing is very high. They will support her as she looks at her options.