Mum and son forced into hotel living on Pot Noodles after losing home
A mum and son have been stuck in a hotel room for weeks after losing their home - with no facilities to prepare meals or wash their clothing.
Paul Maddocks, 43, and his 73 year old mother Susan Weatherman, from Stockport, say they've been surviving on Pot Noodles and snacks at the hotel since July 21, and were forced to share a double bed for over a week before securing a twin room.
Stockport Homes relocated them to the Travelodge on Upper Brook Street in Manchester following their eviction from their previous residence in Edgeley.
"We've been here for three weeks now, it's really playing on my mental health," Paul revealed, reports the Manchester Evening News.
"We've not got a fridge in the room, a microwave, or a cooker, so we're having to eat Pot Noodles and takeaways every day, and there's no laundry here.
"We spent two weeks in a room with just one double bed. We're running out of cash, we're getting no support with food. We're trying to budget but we're really worried about when our money runs out. ".
His mother Susan explained: "It's a nightmare, it's doing my head in being here and we're far away from our family and friends."
Stockport Homes acknowledged it is "deeply sorry for the distress" the family is experiencing.
A spokesperson said: "Losing your home through no fault of your own is incredibly hard, and we understand how much tougher it is to manage health issues while staying in a hotel.
"No one wants families to be in this situation, and we know it's far from what anyone would consider a home.
"Like many areas across the country, we're facing pressures on housing, with far more families needing permanent homes than there are properties available. Sadly, that means some people do have to stay in temporary accommodation while we work to find something more suitable."
The statement further assured that efforts will continue to secure a stable home for the family.
The Edgeley-based family found themselves without a roof over their heads when their previous landlord, Gary Fildes, sold the property they were renting.
Gary explained that he was forced to sell due to mounting financial strains, and reached out to Stockport Homes in March to facilitate a seamless transition to social housing.
Since then, he has been assisting the family in liaising with Stockport Homes.
Gary expressed his disbelief: "To put a 73-year-old in a hotel for nine days in one room [with her adult son] is mental, I have never heard anything like that. There's been absolutely no message on time frames from the council. I just do not get where the compassion is from them."
The necessity of spending on ready meals and takeaways has left Paul and Sue anxious about depleting their funds and having to penny-pinch.
A Travelodge spokesperson commented: "We understand the pressure local authorities are under and how difficult this is for them and for the people who desperately need a home. Like many other hotel providers, Travelodge works with local authorities to support them with their temporary accommodation needs.
"Travelodge's focus is on ensuring all of our customers have a high quality experience across our hotels and we recognise that a hotel room is not a substitute for a home."
The firm also noted that the booking was made on behalf of the guests and that they did not influence the choice of room type.
Paul has shared his struggles with finding affordable private rental options in Stockport, stating that nothing fits within their budget.
Currently unable to work due to illness, Paul has opened up about his battles with mental health issues.
With rents in the borough soaring to an average of £1,000 a month, as reported by the Office for National Statistics—an 8 per cent increase from the previous year—Paul's frustration is palpable.
He expressed his disappointment with the lack of assistance from Stockport Homes in resolving their dire circumstances.
"My head is just burned out, we feel really let down by Stockport Homes, this is not good enough.
"I just want them to give us an update to know what's happening. We have absolutely no idea how long we could be here for. We just do not feel they are trying to help us out of this.
"We've tried the private rental market and we just couldn't afford it. We're miles away from our family and friends and other things like GPs."
Stockport council is poised to shell out approximately £2m on emergency accommodation this year amid escalating demand for hotel placements and surging homelessness figures across the borough.
Stockport Homes operates under council ownership and oversees the area's social housing portfolio, which currently has roughly 8,000 people on the waiting list.
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