We are desperately trying to raise enough money to bring the rent owed on this property under two months worth. This way the courts have a chance of only granting a suspended eviction and my friend will have the opportunity to set up a payment plan to repay the missed rent as apposed to an immediate eviction notice.
Your probably wondering how this situation arose. My friend had been working for a friend and sadly he passed away unexpectedly. His employer had been a wonderful man allowing him to work around school hours even when it wasn't in the best interest of the business. When he passed away the company was sold and my friend was out for the job because his working pattern didn't meet business needs. Suddenly he found himself on benefits as a single father trying to support four children. The benefits were fine for a few months he was told he would see cuts if he couldn't find work in a few months. We tried different jobs but he has no family that are able to support with childcare and over and over again he was unable to complete training in the first few weeks due to school pick ups and drop offs not being manageable over the hours he was required to work.
A few months ago the inevitable happened and his allowance got cut. We were shocked to find the amount barley covered the food and travel needed to keep the children clothed and in school.
My friend has now found another job and training starts Monday but the landlord has already applied to the courts as the rent is now two months late. Reading the laws around the issue we have learned that if we can keep the rent owed below 2 months then the judge can grant a suspended eviction. My friend would have to meet a payment plan proposed at court with any further missed payment meaning eviction.
My friend has found a childcare service that can do pick up and drop offs that finally has spaces to allow him to be able to work and finally get back to providing for his four beautiful children and meet the needs of a repayment plan to get the landlord back what they are owed.
We really need help to be able to get it to this point where we have a chance to keep him in his home and he has a chance to continue keeping his family together.
What makes this situation scarier is after years of battling to get his children out of care two are still on care orders and we don't know what being evicted could mean for them if he suddenly had no roof to provide them.