Toni Bell, a 24-year-old mother and former hairdresser, is forced to live in the same cramped room with her daughter and newborn triplet sons, who have to sleep in basket cradles right on the floor. The state of health and the burden in the form of children do not allow her to earn a living, but the woman refuses social benefits — she considers them too small and requires a lot more.
A sentimental picture of a young mother with children was taken in her parents’ house, where the five of them are forced to live in the only bedroom. Bell is entitled to help from social services and the city council, and here’s what’s interesting — she was offered one. Namely: as part of the standard program, a woman was allocated a one-room room in a budget hotel, and accommodation and breakfast were at the expense of the city budget. But she refused to do this, they say, in such conditions it is impossible to raise children normally.
Bell insists that she is a victim of fate. The girl was diagnosed with Leri-Weil dyschondrosteosis, a disease of the bones of the extremities, in which the wrists and hands have abnormalities in development, which creates pain when working with hands. Not only can she no longer work as a hairdresser, she can’t even lift all the children with things to the third floor, where her room is now located. Previously, Bell rented a house, but the owner sold it and she moved in with her parents. Relations with them immediately deteriorated — grandchildren are grandchildren, and living under the same tight roof with a horde of kids is still a pleasure.
The girl says that she hates being a dependent, but insists that the city council should provide her with normal housing. Such that there are at least three bedrooms, a large bathroom and a kitchen, a game room. Not for their own sake — children should grow up in normal conditions, and not live in some closet. In addition, they are growing very fast. It’s now the baskets with babies look touching, but what will happen in a year?
Toni Bell lost her job during her first pregnancy. And housing — during the second. There is no information about the father or fathers of the children. According to some reports, the City of Edinburgh spends up to $27 million a year on social housing, but it includes only communal apartments and hostels. Good-quality housing is in great demand and is constantly growing in price, as in the next 20 years the population of the city is projected to grow by 30% or more.
