Welling woman fears for children's safety in same building as 'drunks' at temporary Sidcup home

Vanessa Williams, 27, moved into closed down old people’s home Homeleigh Care Home, in Avenue Road, on May 2, but claims the security of her family has been compromised after someone tried to access her room on a number of occasions.

The mum-of-three is extremely upset by the fact the Bexley accommodation, which is mostly full of women and children from vulnerable backgrounds, caters for men too - some of whom are dealing with mental health issues, she claims.

Speaking to News Shopper Ms Williams said: “The situation has been getting worse.

“The problem is I had someone trying to knock on my door.

“But because it kept happening, the last instance woke my kids up.”

Her fears about the safety of her two boys, aged eight and five years old, and her 18 month daughter have grown since her encounters with some of the men staying at Homeleigh.

Vanessa Williams

The full-time mum said: “Three men here are drunk on a daily basis.

“One of the guys told me he came out of a mental institution.

“They have children there with mums with different problems - it’s not right or fair.

“You can’t put children in a room, having to use the hall to get to the toilet by themselves, when it’s so dangerous.”

Bexley Council would not comment on the “personal backgrounds” of anyone at Homeleigh but stressed the fact the rooms for single homeless men and women are on a separate floor and residents in these rooms had “limited access to the rest of the accommodation.”

“My children are my responsibility,” Ms Williams said, “I know that, but everyone has their down days.

“I do not mind the rooms but I just do not think the council knows what is happening.

“If I didn’t have my mum I could not come on a daily basis.

“It is a situation that is not right.

“I’m thinking why on earth would you put us here?”

Two weeks ago, News Shopper reported on the plight of Charlotte Sanderson, 39, and Carly Nelson, 33, two vulnerable mums who were disgusted by the “dehumanising” living conditions imposed on them at Homeleigh, which reopened in its current state in September last year.

In response to Ms Williams complaint a spokeswoman for the council said: “Homeleigh provides good, local short-term accommodation to those in serious housing need while minimising the cost to local taxpayers.

“We will of course look into the issue of someone attempting to enter Ms Williams room.

“We are not aware that this has been reported to the manager.

“We have 24 hour security at the property and CCTV monitoring throughout the building.

“Any incidents of nuisance will be investigated straight away and appropriate action taken.

“We are extremely selective as to who we place in Homeleigh.”