I've lived in a bus stop for seven months

Release time：2024-05-21 12:54:29 Source：Stellar Signals news portal

A homeless woman who transformed a bus shelter into a temporary home has spoken of her desperate battle to keep her family together after being told that she has to find somewhere new to live. 

Destiny Mitchell moved into the bus shelter located in Selly Oak, Birmingham seven months ago with boyfriend Ryan, 31, and her 44-year-old mother.

The trio have tried to give the graffiti-covered shelter home comforts with a carpet, drawers and even an old pair of Super Mario curtains where the timetables were once displayed. They have also been given garden chairs, a bin and sleeping bags from wellwishers.

But the family will now have to move out after Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) announced it was demolishing the bus shelter within weeks.

Destiny says the council offered them temporary accommodation but she does not want to be separated from her mother who also has autism.  

Destiny Mitchell, 26,  has turned a bus stop into a temporary home in Selly Oak, Birmingham with her family 

 The family face finding another place to live and sleep after Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said they would be demolishing the shelter (pictured)

The family have lived in the shelter in Selly Oak, Birmingham (pictured) for seven months 

The shelter (pictured) is kitted out with cupboards, chairs, carpet, bins, bedding and Super Mario Bros-themed makeshift curtains

Destiny says they slept in a doorway of a Greggs but moved into the bus stop after being moved on by the police.

She said: 'When we found this place it was my idea to create this living space.

'Before I lived in a bus stop, I was sleeping in a blanket on the floor, but I didn't feel safe.'

'I saw this bus stop out of use. It was cold and starting to rain. We've had to sellotape the roof to stop the rain getting in.

'The students help me sellotape the windows, I've got a chest of drawers, a carpet.'

The 26-year-old has been homeless on and off since she left her flat in Wolverhampton in her early twenties. 

Destiny went on: 'This is all new to me. I had a flat but bad things happened and I had to leave it and was made homeless. That's when we came to Selly Oak.'

26-year-old Destiny (pictured) has been homeless on and off since she left her flat in Wolverhampton

The 26-year-old lives in the bus stop (pictured) with boyfriend Ryan, 31, and her 44-year-old mother

She has also previously lived in a tent for one year which got burnt down.

On the prospect of finding another place to live and sleep, Destiny said: 'They've [the council] said we've got a month left and they're going to destroy it.

'I've been in here a long time, I don't want them to destroy my home, we haven't got anywhere else to live.

'If the council doesn't help us we're going to try and move into another bus stop.'

The 26-year-old explained: 'We wanted to get a caravan. We don't want to go into a shared house because of drug users. We don't want that, we don't use drugs. It's not safe for us.

'They are saying they won't house my mother and us together. My mother is disabled.

'I want them to house us before they take the bus shelter down. I just want to make sure we all stay together as a family, that's all I want.'

She also highlighted that her living situation was dire and stressed that she had little clothes and money. 

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said the bus stop (pictured) was not in use and was due to be removed

Support charity Trident Reach said it was working with them to find 'appropriate accommodation' but that they had so far refused offers (Pictured: Destiny in the Shelter)

She went on: 'Nobody gives me any money. I haven't got any clothes, I haven't got a bra on.

'No one gives me any money to buy what I need. They give me food but I need clothes too.

'I've had the same pants on for over a month. I've been in shorts and a T-shirt, the students gave me that.

'They're the only clothes I've got now. I haven't shaved in a month. It's cold around here.

'I've got two blankets, one sleeping bag and one duvet. It's a fluffy one but it still gets really cold.

'I'm going to be sad when I have to leave the bus stop because we've done our best to make it home.'

Support charity Trident Reach say they are trying to work with the family to help them get off the streets.

A spokesperson said: 'Our teams are aware of the couple and have been trying to work with them to find appropriate accommodation.

'Unfortunately they have declined accommodation as it is currently not in the area they would prefer.

'We will always work with people to encourage them into appropriate housing but unfortunately sometimes people do decline help.

'We will continue our daily checks on the couple and continue with offers of housing support and options for them.'

A spokesperson for TfWM said: 'All bus services have been consolidated at a neighbouring shelter so this one is no longer required and it has therefore been earmarked for removal. The process to remove the shelter is underway, including disconnecting power supply, securing road work permits and scheduling the works with contractors.

'In the meantime, we're liaising with our partners including the police, council and local housing providers who are working to secure suitable long-term accommodation for the people involved. We thank the local community for their patience while the issue is resolved.' 

Birmingham City Council confirmed the bus shelter 'will be removed soon' but no date had been set.

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