Single mother offered accommodation 250 miles away

The former mining village of Horden is more than 250 miles away from London

A young, single mother from London has been told the only council house available is 250 miles away.

Demi Longworth, who needs to leave temporary accommodation in Hillingdon, Greater London this week, has been offered a permanent home in Horden in County Durham.

The 23-year-old said Hillingdon Council told her it would close her case "and we would just have to be homeless" if she turned down the offer.

In a statement, the authority said "offers out of borough are only made when there are no alternatives in Hillingdon".

Ms Longworth said the suggestion was "ridiculous", adding she had "never heard of" County Durham.

"I’ll be ripped apart from everything and everyone I know," she said.

"They said, if I don’t accept it, my case would be closed and we would just have to be homeless."

'Fundamental failure'

Ms Longworth had been living with her mother and other family members, but had had to leave.

As first reported by the Northern Echo, the council moved her to temporary accommodation last week - but said it could not find anywhere permanent for her within its local authority area.

Durham County Council cabinet member James Rowlandson said he did not agree with the decision to move Ms Longworth so far from her family.

But, if she did move to Horden, the authority would try to support her and her son, he said.

The number of households on social housing waiting lists across north-east England is at its highest level since 2012, Shelter North East said earlier this year.

It went up from 50,453 in 2022 to 75,985 in 2023, the biggest increase in England.

Easington Labour MP Grahame Morris said Ms Longworth's situation was "deeply troubling".

"There is a fundamental failure when a council compels a mother and child to choose between homelessness or being sent over 200 miles away."

Hillingdon Council said: "We always look to accommodate households within the borough.

"Due to the high demand for affordable housing, this is not always possible.

"Whenever we offer settled accommodation outside of the borough, this always follows a rigorous and robust assessment with the individual.

"Offers out of borough are only made when there are no alternatives in Hillingdon, and the vast majority of homeless households continue to be housed within the borough."