My friend, a single mother who has 3 children, her two boys are in the same year at school as my two boys - Year 1 and Year 4 and her daughter is in Year 5. Her first language is not English, but she does her best. She has no family in this country. She works a part time job and is a good mother to her children.

She had lived in a flat for 4 or 5 years but in December was evicted, by a rogue landlord. Croydon Council have deemed this situation as of her own making - she is classed as being intentionally homeless. She was evicted for arrears in rent - however the Council for 4 years, had in her records, that she had been working two jobs, so the amount of Housing Benefit she received had been wrong for the whole time - until last month. However they still say that she made herself intentionally homeless. She and her 3 children have moved twice now, from one set of temporay accommodation to another, in the last 3 months. The Council say that they will no longer provide her with accommodation from Monday at 10am.

She had asked for a review of the decision the Council made about her homelessness situation and also asked that the Council house her until the outcome of the review, which can take up to 56 days, but the Council have refused to house her during this process. They have said to her, that they have an obligation to house the children, but not her, and will do so, splitting the family up. It makes my blood boil that they are doing this to her.

Luckily, we managed to get her free access to legal advice this week, but at the last hour, this is not much help. What she needs, is a roof over her head, with her children until she can find another suitable apartment to live in with her children. This may take some time - up to a month - maybe 6 weeks - many landlords do not want to rent their properties to people in receipt of Housing Benefit - and this is really unfortunate. There are plenty of flats out there to rent in Croydon, but I have not been able to find one available to her right now, because of this.

My friend also needed a translator when she spoke with the solicitor, which was good - she said she could really explain everything very well - but today I spoke with her housing officer, who said she thought she was lying about her English language ability. She should have been offered a translator from the getgo and I am appalled that Croydon Council failed to offer her one. I am desperate to help my friend and I really want your help to raise as much as we can, so that this loving family does not get torn apart. It is hugely stressful. Imagine being in her shoes. Imagine being one of her children. Please donate - a little will go a long way. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!