Living in claustrophobia
LIVING in a house with nine others is proving tough and taking a toll on everyone at the home.
That is according to Nolene Goldstone, who moved into her neighbour’s house with her husband, Duncan.
While the couple, who are unemployed, sleep in the lounge with two other teenagers, six others share a bedroom.
“There are five adults and four teenagers, with one small child. The house gets claustrophobic when my husband and I get up at 4.30am. We keep to one side to allow the family to sort themselves out. At the home I was evicted from, I have a water trough outside, so we brush our teeth there until we are able to bath at our neighbour’s.”
The 61-year-old, whose mom died soon after being evicted, described their current living conditions as difficult.
“We cannot do anything else. We were forced into this situation and were stripped of our dignity.”
She did her washing at the outside trough as she did not want to impose on her neighbours.
Goldstone, who has been living at the Howell Road Estate since 2002, said although she was not allowed to enter her home, she tried her level best to maintain her garden.
“I still make the outside area look presentable. I do these small things to keep busy. If not, I start to think about our plight and how unfairly we’re treated. I pray the government takes the initiative and gives us homes.”