I was interested in the Podium by the Leader of South Lakeland District Council Peter Thornton (Gazette, August 13, ‘It’s time that we stood up for our public housing’).

My family circumstances mean we are now on the housing list for Kendal and although we have only been on the list for six weeks it has become very frustrating to see the shortage of housing in the area, particularly in Kendal.

In that six weeks only one house was on offer in Kendal and, despite us being in band C, we were number 11 on the list for this house. How frustrating for so many others who would have found themselves even lower down the list and on the list for considerably longer!

The reason for this is purely down to social housing being sold off for a fraction of the value.

While it makes me angry being in this situation I also understand why so many have chosen to buy the houses offered to them. In fact, my parents chose to do just that and because they did their lives have become increasingly easier. So who can blame all those people who took advantage of the offer! However, it has left my generation high and dry when they needed it most.

How short sighted of a government to sell the only lifeline some people have, without replacing them. Selling the homes for a fraction of their worth has left the authorities unable to build because of a multi million pound shortfall.

I am currently living back at home with my parents but my oldest is separated from us and is living with my brother and his family to ease the space problem. I am not out to provide some sob story and try to win people over but the circumstances can’t be ignored. I am sure I am not the only one who finds themselves in similar circumstances and needs the provision of social housing.

My husband died a few months ago and I have three children and another on the way. After a couple of conversations with SLDC, who do their jobs and are obviously frustrated themselves with the social housing situation, I was asked to look for private rental. They were shocked when I told them that I had been but so many refuse anyone on Housing Benefit and, worse, several of the landlords of three-bedroomed houses refuse children.

SLDC also asked if we would consider going into a hostel saying we would go up on the list! Obviously I am not going to purposefully put my family in a potentially worse situation than they already are so we may get higher on the list!

We are just one family in desperate need at the moment I am sure we are not the only ones.

Local Government, housing associations, home builders and landlords need to take heed of a growing problem and something needs to be done. Someone needs to hear the voices of thousands of people in the area all in need.

We hear of all the homeless children in Britain, thinking about those perhaps in the large cities like London, Birmingham or Manchester and not thinking in our own small town there are children in desperate need.

I would like to hear from anyone who has found themselves in a similar position. Maybe a louder voice will be heard with more to join that voice. I can be contacted at hunter.katybeth@gmail.com

Katy Hunter

Kendal