A WOMAN was almost made homeless by Warrington Borough Council after it tried to evict her from temporary accommodation with less than three days' notice.

The council had moved the resident - who will remain nameless - into temporary workers' accommodation in July, and promised that she was on the priority list for new accommodation.

A letter was written to the resident, dated October 18, telling her that she had to vacate the temporary accommodation, in Sankey Bridges, by Friday, October 21.

The council told the woman that she would need to purchase everything she would need for when she moved into her council flat, as she would have to move into the new flat on the day that it was made available.

Due to this, she now has more items now than when she moved in because the council told her to purchase items for the flat that was promised.

However, despite being told she was 'next on the list,' the council then sent her a letter trying to evict her from her current accommodation.

The letter that was sent to the resident - who works as a support worker, herself - said the temporary accommodation was needed for a family to use, as the council 'owes a statutory duty' to families at risk of homelessness.

Warrington Guardian: The resident received this letter from the councilThe resident received this letter from the council (Image: Newsquest)

She was told by the council that her case remains open with the Homelessness and Housing Advice Service and that her caseworker would be in touch with her.

The caseworker in question later told her - she alleges - that he had never seen this happen before, and that there was nothing more he could do, as it was 'way above his head.'

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian, the woman said that she was made homeless in May, through no fault of her own, and since then she has been on a waiting list for more permanent council accommodation.

She was put in touch with the Homelessness and Housing Advice Service, but 'due to high demand' the service only checks its public telephone once per day.

Since the Warrington Guardian began making enquiries with the council, the eviction process was halted for the resident, as she was able to secure a 'drop-in' meeting with the council, and has begun the complaints process.

A spokesperson for Warrington Borough Council said: "We have a duty to provide temporary accommodation for people who meet certain criteria and are classed as having priority need. In this case, this person has been prioritised for social housing on the Under One Roof scheme, but their offer for social housing is not yet available.

"We did not have a duty to provide temporary accommodation in the meantime, but did so as a discretionary power."

“In Warrington, like in many areas across the country, there is more need for housing than we have properties for. There are families with children in crisis who must be prioritised so we have had to reassess the way we use our very limited temporary accommodation."

Warrington Guardian: The council said it had no duty to provide the woman with accommodationThe council said it had no duty to provide the woman with accommodation (Image: Maps)

The spokesperson added: "As a result, where this is no statutory duty for us to provide accommodation for people, and they have breached their licence conditions, they have been asked to leave the temporary accommodation provided to them.

“This was a very difficult decision to make, but one we had no choice but to action, due to more vulnerable people requiring urgent accommodation and we have a legal duty to provide it."