Dad claims he is forced to live in a caravan
Frustrated father Darren Uren says he has been forced to live in a caravan with his three children because the council can't find him a home.
The 40-year-old moved into the caravan, which is parked his mother's house in Hudson Street, St Paul's, with his two sons and 14-year-old daughter five months ago.
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He has been on the waiting list for a new home for four years and says all he wants is a new house in the area where he was born and brought up.
Darren said: "I'm stuck here until I can get anything from the council.
"It hasn't managed to do anything for me in four years. Now I have to live in this caravan with my three children.
"It's cramped and crowded and we're all just fed up. It would be okay if I was on my own, but with the kids here as well it's just not right.
"They liked it at first but now they're finding it a struggle too. It is first-come, first-served in the morning when it comes to showers, but we shouldn't have to live like this."
Darren, who works for Harry Buckland car breakers in Gloucester Road, was made homeless when he split up with his wife in 2004.
The couple had rented a council house in Hudson Street, where Darren's brother and mother also live.
After more than four years of sleeping on the sofa at his brother's home, Darren decided he could not be a burden any longer and moved out.
He was joined by children Ricky, 17, a college student, and Gardners Lane School pupils Taylor, 14, and 10-year-old Connor. The youngsters had previously been living with Darren's ex-wife.
Darren claims they spend just half an hour in his mother's home a day, showering. Homework is done and meals are taken in the cramped conditions of the caravan.
He said: "We spend all our time in the van. We all sleep in there and the kids have to live in it. If anybody doesn't believe us, come and spend a night."
Darren, who works for Harry Buckland car breakers in Gloucester Road, said he had looked into renting privately but could not afford it.
He said: "With three kids, there's no way I can afford it. I've told that to the council but they won't do anything.
"I can't afford to rent on my own and support everybody at the same time."
Darren claims Cheltenham Borough Homes lost his paperwork while he has been on the waiting list and he was left at the back of the queue as a result – an accusation denied by the council.
Cheltenham Borough Homes officials visited the caravan shortly after he moved in, but Darren says he was told there was nothing wrong with keeping his children in such conditions.
He said: "They came along to check so I thought they might actually have to find somewhere for us.
"But they just looked inside and said it had heating and light, so it was fine. That was it."
A spokeswoman for Cheltenham Borough Homes said the legality of Darren's caravan was a matter for the police.
She said: "We have been in regular contact with Mr Uren over the past few months and have discussed the range of potential housing options which may be open to him, including privately-rented accommodation."
45 Comments
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by jackie, glos
Friday, March 27 2009, 7:31PM
“i dont know whether most of you even read this guys story properly im sure i read he had a full time job,is not asking for benifets or handouts so how is he a scrounger or sponger he wants to give his family a decent chance not too much to ask or is it!!!!!!!!!!!”
by WorkForImprovements, chelt
Friday, March 27 2009, 3:14PM
“I want a house to live in as well CBC. If possible can I have a detatched house? Rent free of course. If you don't bow down to my demands I will go to the echo! Not trying to be rude but most of us always want something better, be it a car, house, tv, holdiay than the next man. I just don't believe everyone should have to foot the bill time and time again.”
by Amy, cheltenham
Friday, March 27 2009, 2:12PM
“If you make yourself intentionally homeless the council wont give you a house as youve chosen that path when you previously had a roof over your head, no matter how small.
With children of that age and different sexes you should be higher priority but if there arent any homes available for that large a family then its just a waiting game”
by sue, hucclecote
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:44PM
“i think the council should think about reprioritising the housing issue this man has spent one of our worst winters in years in a caravan with young children on the councils approval whilst they are housing foriegn nationals at the drop of a hat.maybe if the houses in his area hadnt been demolished and left to waste land this man and his family along with countless others would have a home.pull up your boots CHB think about the effect you have on peoples lives and sheer money waste”
by tracey mason, cheltenham
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:17PM
“Why sould he let the kids go back to live with their mum when he is doing a good job looking after them his self all he wants is a house for him and his children .There are plenty in st pauls”
by sharon, glos
Friday, March 27 2009, 1:04PM
“what happened to councils ruling of mix sex siblings sharing sleeping quarters have they conveniently forgot this?as and when it suits!!!well done darren for being there for your kids i feel sorry for you and your daughter council should be ashamed of themselves.”
by jackie, glos
Thursday, March 26 2009, 8:45PM
“wow people are so quick to judge others when down on their luck.so many guys out there leave their kids without a second thought with an unfit mother but thats ok cause they already have council house,this guy is trying to do right by his kids and getting slated for it.I admire the guy for taking them on plus having full time employment at a job of which i imagine is hard going.Hands up to you darren keep fighting you deserve a desent home for you and yours”
by Anni Jones, Cheltenham
Thursday, March 26 2009, 4:38PM
“Hmmmm I am disgusted with some of the comments left about this story. I bet most, if not all of you have a nice roof over your heads, warm fire to snuggle by when its cold and probably still live with your mum anyway.
Don't you think it's about time we all supported each other with the way things are in this country at the moment??!!
As much as it pains me to say this... Darren is a good man and looks after his kids the best way he can. They have always looked clean, tidy and happy, so why shouldn't they live with their father if thats what they want? If Darren was their mother, would they have been in a house by now?
It makes me sick with the amount of houses there are in the area that are left empty for the same group of kids to burn down on a regular occurance... which is wasting more of the tax payers money (Darren being a tax payer himself) by sending the 5 fire engines out for putting out each fire which wouldn't have been started if someone was actually living there in th first place!!!
Give the poor guy a break... Give him a house!!!!”
by kim, st pauls
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:28AM
“why dont all you ignorent people on here give darren a break .if he disowned his kids it would be wrong but hes hasent and hes looking after them while workin its hard for a couple to bring kids up let alone a one parent family i know darren and he works bloody hard.He has lived in st pauls all his life and he can see the empty houses either being burned down or left to rott i think its an absalute disgrace that the councill who has distroyed st pauls with there big ideas have got the cheak to say they have no houses to put darren or any other homeless familys in , the chelt councill needs sortin out there all corrupt one way or another.And as 4 darren living with his mum she is a good woman and has put herself out for darren and his children but at the end of the day its not her duty to give them a house”
by Andy, Chelts
Thursday, March 26 2009, 10:06AM
“I've lived here for 12 years and when I first moved I liked it. I don't now. It's not the place, it's the people. Just look through the comments on here before you reply to this. Except for 1 or 2 comments posted, you lot have no class. You probably don't have a lot yourself but you can still find the "charity" in you to belittle a single father's attempts to give his young family a decent life. Pathetic. And before somebody gets all predictable and tells me to leave if I don't like it, I am.”