FORMER Sweets Way resident Bernadette Fernandes told the Star how her life has changed for the worse since Annington Homes kicked her out of her home and her community. 

“I lived here for about five and a half years,” she said, behind a pair of sunglasses to hide her tears.

“I was about to get evicted by High Court bailiffs, but I moved out … before they arrived.

“I’m a private tenant and (the council) wanted me to find my own place. They said: ‘The only option is to wait until you get evicted and then you come and we can give you a place.’

“I had been looking ever since hearing that they wanted us out. I’d been looking for a landlord who accepted housing benefit because everywhere what you hear is: ‘No DSS.’ “When the bailiffs were going to come, I really went into panic mode.”

While she eventually found a place close enough for her eight-year-old daughter not to have to change schools, Ms Fernandes said she felt she lost more than her home.

“When I was here I had lots of support from the neighbours and we were very close.

“I trusted them with my kid and even in an emergency or if I needed to go out it was something I could trust them to look after my daughter, which I don’t feel comfortable with now. 

“I have lost my support system and now I am having to manage on my own.”