Homeless couple make plea for help as cold spell looms

William Brooks and his partner have been made homeless and after staying with friends and family have nowhere left to go

Published on 10/01/2013 09:31

BERWICK couple William and Nicole Brooks have been left homeless over the Christmas and New Year period and are still searching for suitable accommodation.

The pair have been living in bus shelters and doorways for the past six weeks and are now getting desperate. They were evicted from their one bedroom flat on Osborne Crescent on November 9 after a flooding incident.

“It’s been really hard just walking the streets all day with nowhere to go and now that it’s getting colder we’re getting desperate,” said William, 27. “We’re just a couple who want to close our door at night and relax.”

To make matters worse, William is suffering from serious injuries sustained in a motor bike accident which means he is unable to work.

“We’ve been in touch with the council and have been put in Band 1 but last week Nicole was number one bidder for a house in Scremerston on Homefinder only to be told we didn’t meet the criteria for it,” William explained.

“I know they could send us to Newcastle or Edinburgh but I don’t want to go. I’ve got work to go back to when I’m fit again and I’ve got a son here as well.”

A council spokesman said: “Normally a priority band would secure accommodation relatively quickly in Northumberland, however there is a high demand for social housing in Berwick and therefore the housing choice is very limited.

“We have agreed to provide them with a bond from the homelessness prevention fund should they be able to secure suitable, affordable accommodation in the private sector.

“We’ll continue to work with this couple to help them secure suitable accommodation as soon as is possible.”

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Homeless couple make plea for help as cold spell looms

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