A HOMELESS family of four from Sidcup have been forced to sleep rough in their car for the past year because they can’t get a council house.

Norman Karawaiez, 61, his wife Carole and their children Lewis and Lamase cram into his minicab to catch a few hours sleep a night.

They park their silver Toyota Avensis in Station Road, Sidcup or a lay-by next to Danson Park in Bexleyheath because they have nowhere else to go.

Mrs Karawaiez told News Shopper: "It’s a nightmare.

"Me and my daughter lie at the back and my husband and son sleep in the front of the car.

"I can’t remember the last time I had a good night’s sleep. We’re constantly bickering at each other."

The former carer and mother-of-four says she has a shower at her daughter Leila’s house in Blendon and is picked up by her husband when he finishes work at Jemma Cars in Sidcup at around 1am.

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The mother of four, 56, says there is no room at Leila's house for them to stay and the situation has taken its toll on their close-knit family, particularly her youngest daughter Lamase.

She said: "My husband’s quite used to it as he’s done it for the past 10 years or so but my son and daughter are getting really stressed.

"They’re 21 and 20 but they act quite young for their age.

"My youngest took an overdose of prescription pills about three months ago and she’s now waiting to go to counselling."

Mrs Karawaiez, who suffers from depression, says she can’t work at the moment due to lack of sleep and not having a proper home.

The family live off the income from Mr Karawaiez, who earns around £300 week working seven days a week at the Station Road minicab firm.

Son Lewis, 21, is training to become a hairdresser at the Barber Shop Cafe in Welling High Street and takes home £50 a week.

The family lived together in Ruxley Close, Sidcup before the house was repossessed because they couldn’t afford to pay the mortgage after Mr Karawaiez was made redundant from his job at a magazine company in central London.

The couple split up following their eviction about 10 years ago and Mrs Karawaiez went to live with her cousin in Erith.

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Around six months later she moved to Plumstead where she lived until the summer of last year before getting back together with her husband.

They applied to be added to Bexley Council's housing register in April.

However, last week they received a letter to say they do not fulfill the criteria because they don’t have proof of them living in the borough for the past two years.

For the last decade Mr Karawaiez has lived in his minicab - but has no proof of residence.

A Bexley Council spokeswoman said: "The family is comprised of a husband, wife and two children aged 20 and 21, both of whom are working.

"The family approached the service and were advised that they should look to find private rented accommodation as they are unlikely to be classed as in priority need in light of the children being adults and both working.

"The council has made a commitment to prioritise established Bexley families in their allocations policy, which means having lived continuously in the borough for two years at the point of application.

"As this is not the case with this family it is not possible to accept a housing application from them at this stage.

"Social housing is in short supply and the council must look at the evidence of each case very closely as things are not always as they seem.

"It is the council’s duty to ensure that it gets value for money for its taxpayers and that those with the most need are prioritised."