25-year-old Jessika Jones reported herself to social services after being left without electricity weeks before Christmas.
The heavily pregnant mother, who has separated from the father of her kids, lives with her two children, 1-year-old William, and 5-year-old Francis, in Middleborough.
She said that their electricity always trips, leaving them without lighting, heating or the use of their appliances.
Jessika said she was also forced to bin almost £180 worth of food as her freezer was off. She has contacted Middlebrough Council many times but claims they haven’t done anything to help her and other families renting there.
“We have reported it to social services and they said we have got to phone the council again,” she said. “Having to report yourself to social services because of the welfare of the children – I think it’s disgusting.
“I have got to show the council that I can’t live like that.
“I feel like they don’t care. We just keep reporting it and they just keep fobbing me off to someone else all the time.
“It’s made me feel like I can’t provide for my children. I can’t feed them properly or put a warm meal in their tummy. I’m just at the end of my tether, I don’t know what else to do.”
The pregnant mother said the council is responsible for the area but many families were left without electricity.
“It’s not as if it’s cheap to live on here. It’s still £100 a week and we own our own homes. We have got the same as what a house would have,” Jessika said.
“I’m eight months pregnant and due to have my baby on Friday. I can’t come home from hospital with a baby. I have to warm up bottles and I can’t leave them at room temperature as it’s freezing.
“We are wrapping up, there is nothing else we can do. We are wearing dressing gowns, socks, two pairs of pyjamas.
“I have had to put the children in bed with me. We shouldn’t have to do that. What do they expect us to do? Really I think it’s discrimination because we are live-in travellers.”
The 25-year-old contacted the local authority and they installed a temporary generator on the site.
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Replaced!