Damani’s story
Damani didn’t realise that doing a few extra hours to help out would mean her benefits were stopped and she wouldn’t be able to afford the rent…
Damani is a single mum to two young daughters. She works part-time but her wages are low and it has been a struggle to make ends meet for some time. This has been even more challenging as the cost of essentials, such as food and utilities, continue to rise.
Damani recently did some additional hours to help out her colleagues and thinking the extra money would be useful. She didn’t realise this would have implications for her benefit payments and it led to her housing benefit being suspended. Damani could no longer make the rent payments and has since accrued rent arrears. Whilst she has applied for universal credit to help her get by, she is still waiting for her application to be processed.
Damani was referred to us for help as she couldn’t afford to buy the school uniforms she need for her daughters. She was hugely upset and stressed by this. It then also emerged that the family had been sharing one bed for some time, as Damani hadn’t had any spare money to be able to afford to purchase beds for her children.
Thanks to your support we have been able to help the family by not only providing the items of uniform needed by the children, but also by purchasing two new beds. The girls now have a bed of their own and Damani no longer has to spend time sleeping on the floor. Thank you.
"It’s fantastic to see all the ways the community comes together to improve the lives of people in need. From undertaking challenges, to dress-up days, quizzes, raffles and cake-bakes, to donating, setting up a regular gift, volunteering or spreading the word, it all helps to ensure people living in hardship are warm, safe and fed and have the basics in life that we all deserve."
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