Housing trouble (From Barry And District News)

Housing trouble

A BARRY family of six are 'living in hell' in a two-bedroomed house thanks to a housing nightmare.

Edward-John and Sophie Bowen-Humphries and their four children are jammed into their home.

But the housing association cannot find a larger place and the local authority can only act if they stay in the Vale.

When they first moved in to Winston Road eight years ago, their first child had his own room.

Since then Brett has been joined by his sister Rebecca, five, Cameron, four, and Lucas, two.

"I've been talking to the council about it for more than two years now, ever since my youngest son was born," Sophie explained.

"They just don't seem to care."

The beleaguered mother told how the situation got worse as her husband developed a mental-health problem.

"He can't even go out of the door any more, " she said. "And he's getting worse all the time.

"When we got married it was the happiest day of my life. It's been downhill ever since.

Even Christmas isn't a happy time."

When local MP John Smith heard about the problem last week, he described the situation as "urgent" and said he would urge the council to act.

The council has said it is unable to do anything because the family asked for accommodation outside its jurisdiction.

"To me, a boy, aged eight, and a girl, aged five, shouldn't have to stay in the same bedroom," Mrs Humphries continued. "This house is just not built for a family of six people. We can't cope in here."