Report cover image by Sophia Spring
Patricia has lived in the UK since 2006. She has two children, aged seven and five. She has separated from the children’s father, who was violent and abusive. Patricia has an outstanding appeal to remain in the UK and in the meantime, she is not allowed to work or to claim benefits.
In April 2014 Patricia and her children were housed in a building that was split into five ‘flats’ inhabited by around 50 people. Patricia shared her ‘flat’ with a family of six and a single man who screamed day and night, banged on the walls and left the bathroom in a filthy state. To make sure they could wash safely, she got the children up at 4am.
