A DISABLED grandma forced to leave her home following a major fire has been placed in a ‘hovel’ by the council – and is living without hot water or carpets.
Janet Devereux was told to evacuate her home on June 22 after a fire broke out in Salthouse Road.
Crews from across Cumbria were called to the incident which affected multiple properties at the intersection of Salthouse Road and Marsh Street, several of which have since been deemed ‘uninhabitable’.
A 30-year-old man from Barrow has been arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. He has since been released on bail pending further inquiries.
Janet – a grandma-of-six – lost all her possessions in the fire and was living in a Travelodge until Westmorland and Furness Council placed her in emergency housing.
READ MORE: Grandma living in Travelodge after 'losing everything' in Barrow fire
However the 57-year-old was ‘absolutely shocked’ at the state of the property she was given in Blake Street.
“I was scared to turn it down because I don’t want to seem ungrateful,” Janet said.
“I just thought I had to take it – I can’t carry on living in a Travelodge.
“But there’s no hot water or carpets.
“The bedroom is completely bare; the underlay is full of dust. The floor is rotten and black – it can’t be healthy. It’s a tip.”
Janet said she has been offered a £500 grant from the council which she said won’t even cover carpeting two rooms.
“I seem to have been offered virtually no help through the council,” she said.
“I’m the victim of this crime – a house fire – and I feel I am being held responsible. I have lost everything I own.
“And I’m expected to sort everything on my own – getting the water fixed, getting internet so I can speak to people. My life has been turned upside down.
“I just want to go back home. It’s been the hardest four weeks and I’m still going through it. It didn’t end when the fire was put out.”
Barrow mum Jo Holmes heard about Janet’s situation via social media and reached out to offer some help.
She went around to donate some kitchen items and ‘could not believe’ what she found.
“I was disgusted at the state of the property,” she said.
“It’s absolutely awful. I was so shocked at every room we walked in.
“Janet lost absolutely everything in this fire and all she wants is a home, and she’s been given this.
“She’s scared of coming across ungrateful but it’s just not liveable – it’s a hovel. I set up a fundraiser to see if we can help Janet get basic necessities like carpets and paint the walls. If we could just raise £1,000 we could get the place carpeted and wallpapered. It’s absolutely bare at the moment.”
A Westmorland and Furness Council spokesman said the council is fully aware of the current condition of the property.
He said: “We empathise hugely with Mrs Devereux’s current situation and what she has been through in the last few weeks. We are also fully aware of the current condition of the council property we have provided for her at short notice.
“After the tragic events at her previous property on Salthouse Road just a couple of weeks ago, the tenant’s housing association initially provided her with temporary accommodation to live in whilst we found something permanent for her. We were able to identify a ground floor property on Blake Street in the area she wished to live in.
“We initially visited the property with Mrs Devereux on July 3 and she agreed, with the right support, that she would move in. Since then, we have worked with Spring Mount Church to provide a gas cooker, a fridge, a washing machine, and a bed. We have also provided a voucher to purchase items to help decorate the property, clothing, funding from the council’s household support fund, and successfully applied for additional funding from the Cumbria Disaster Fund. A funding application for new flooring for the property is currently being explored too.
“When issues arise, such as problems with the hot water supply, we will carry out a repair at the earliest opportunity – usually within two hours from the time this has been reported to us.
“We will continue to support the tenant and ensure assistance is available to her whenever appropriate.”
A charity has kindly offered to donate a carpet for one of the rooms, but Janet is desperately appealing for help to decorate the remainder of her rooms.
If you can offer flooring, lino, carpeting or any other services for Janet’s home contact joanne.holmes917@gmail.com
Or if you would like to make a donation, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/zawtm-community-help
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