Time

Text

00.00.30

[Beverly] It's a good choice I think, this dress

00.00.33

[Bronte hums the Can Can]

00.00.53

[Beverly] Woo!

00.00.58

[Daisy] Are you excited for the big day?

00.01.00

Oh yeah! Of course we are.

00.01.02

Are you?

00.01.04

[Daisy] Yeah, I will be.

00.01.06

Oh, we're going in. We need to go in.

00.01.07

[Daisy] Ok, me too. Right, see you in a bit!

00.01.11

Love you!

00.01.15

[Piano Music]

00.01.18

[Announcer] Daisy-May Hudson.

00.01.19

[People cheering]

00.01.25

Hey!

00.01.29

[Beverly] My clever girl! My clever girl!

00.01.33

[Daisy] How was it?

00.01.34

It was one of the best moments of my life ever!

00.01.41

[Beverly] I saw the potential in you and if I made you believe that you could achieve anything, I knew that you would.

00.01.49

[Daisy] But that strength and that certainty and that… it's strange that you find it difficult to apply to your own life.

00.01.57

[Beverly] My one hundred percent is what I give to you two. So, it takes a lot of my strength…

00.02.04

A lof ot my strength to have got you two… 

00.02.11

[Daisy] Don't get upset.

00.02.15

There's not enough for me left, there isn't, because I get really tired.

00.02.19

But I've said that to you before. That I… 

00.02.26

That when people say to me as a single parent what amazing people you two are

00.02.32

That's my hundred percent into it

00.02.38

Because I feel, I kind of feel… with you two I kind of know what I can do a good job 

00.02.49

[Daisy] Mm.

00.02.50

And that's my job.

00.03.53

[Sound of water]

00.04.05

[Daisy] So we've arrived back to London from graduation... And where are you going?

00.04.08

[Beverly] And from graduation we are heading to the homeless hostel in North Weald.

00.04.16

[Daisy] Oh Mum…

00.04.20

We've just had the best time and now it’s the worst time

00.04.26

I'm sorry, I hate - I don't want to stress you out

00.04.30

You're all right.

00.04.41

Yeah, I'll be fine.

00.04.44

SUPER: HALF WAY

00.04.55

[Sounds of birds]

00.04.59

[Daisy] We moved into our housein Regent Road when I was 9 years old.

00.05.02

My mum was eight months pregnant with my little sister.

00.05.05

And, it quickly became our sanctuary, our security and our home.

00.05.09

We lived there happily undisturbed by TESCO who was our landlord for thirteen years.

00.05.14

In my final year at the University of Manchester, I got a phone call from my mum to tell me that TESCO had decided they were going to sell of our house. 

00.05.22

Rent prices in Epping had sky-rocketed over the last decade

00.05.24

And as our rent had remained relatively stable over that time, we found ourselves completely priced-out of the market

00.05.31

So despite having lived and worked in Epping all her life

00.05.33

My mum had no choice but to go to the council and declare us homeless.

00.05.38

In a situation where I felt completely powerless, the camera was the only thing that I could really control 

00.05.42

So I began filming to try and take some of that power back

00.05.46

[Tap running]

00.05.57

Are you starving boy?

00.06.07

[Laughing]

00.06.12

Don't show them the cupboard under the sink. It's gross.

00.06.15

[Daisy] The what?

00.06.17

The cupboard under the sink.

00.06.18

We don't live like this normally. It's because we're moving, we've sold off some our furniture

00.06.23

Because we've got to put some things in storage, so - 

00.06.27

[Bronte] Mm, uh-huh

00.06.28

We've had to sold stuff off and actually when the table and chairs went it's so upsetting 'cause the kitchen just looked empty

00.06.35

That I put a trestle table up in the middle

00.06.40

[Daisy] Why do you love packing?

00.06.42

I don't know… I just find it fun and I love knowing where everything is. 

00.06.48

And, I love… I don't know. It's just… something I like doing. 

00.06.52

[Daisy] So does it make you upset that your stuff is in boxes?

00.06.54

No

00.06.58

[Daisy] Don't care?

00.06.69

No, 'cause, I don't know… I'm kind of used to… I know that we're moving 

00.07.05

and that’s - I can't really change that, can I?

00.07.08

[Picture scrapes wall]

00.07.10

I think she likes packing because it gives her a focus if we're packing.

00.07.16

I think she thinks that if she's packing then there's going to be some kind of - 

00.07.19

I'm bored of just sitting and waiting.

00.07.21

[Beverly] Yeah, there's going to be some kind of outcome.

00.07.25

But, it doesn't feel like home anymore…

00.07.28

[Bronte] Where's the nail varnish remover?

00.07.31

[Beverly] At all.

00.07.33

Actually, I don't even - I don't look forward to coming in here at all, anymore.

00.07.42

I just don't want to be here.

00.07.45

Bronte has started sleeping with her Snuggie and her Lucy again.

00.07.50

[Daisy] Aw.

00.07.51

I think it gives her a bit of comfort. These are the things she's had since she was a baby.

00.07.55

And, quite a lot of the time she sleeps with me and I don't really mind 'cause we just give comfort to eachother really.  

00.08.05

[Daisy] Where are you moving all the boxes to?

00.08.07

[Beverly] I don't know, I've asked Grandad if we can put some in the garage. 

00.08.12

Apparently I'm a bit of a hoarder, apparently.

00.08.14

[Daisy laughing]

00.08.16

[Daisy] Who said?

00.08.18

My friend Julie. My Julie. 

00.08.20

She went 'Oh', she'd had a few wines, 'you are a bit of a hoarder though'

00.08.24

What?'

00.08.26

[Laughing]

00.08.27

You just don't want to hear things like that. Does that mean that you're an untidy bitch. 

00.08.32

[Laughing]

00.08.34

[Bronte] What are you laughing about?

00.08.36

[Daisy] Nothing. 

00.08.39

What did you say about Lucy and Snuggie?

00.08.41

That you sleep with them now, don't you? 

00.08.46

Yeah.

00.08.49

[Sound of baby crying]

00.08.53

SUPER: 10th July 2013. Ten days homeless

00.09.01

Drum roll please

00.09.07

Does the key not work?

00.09.08

The key doesn't work.

00.09.11

[Door creaks]

00.09.29

[Bronte sings to herself]

00.09.32

There are cameras everywhere so they may stop you filming… who cares.

00.09.40

Like certain rooms get assigned different kitchens so are these all the different kitchens?

00.09.59

This is for the three of us. So, we also been given this other room, which is in here. This is our other room that we brought everything into and tried to make sense of.

00.10.26

[Sound of electric tooth brush]

00.10.28

[Daisy] So they gave you two rooms because I'm over eighteen?

00.10.32

[Beverly] Yeah.

00.10.34

But I didn't want us in two separate rooms. I mean you feel like possibly you'd want to, 

00.10.43

I don't know, how do  you feel?

00.10.45

[Daisy] It depends how long we're here for

00.10.50

[Door creaks]

00.10.51

I'm so tired. I've had, like, four weekends of moving, moving, moving,

00.10.58

Lugging, lugging, lugging, worrying, worrying, worrying.

00.11.06

Not knowing if I'm doing the right thing putting the family through this. 

00.11.18

[Daisy] You know, it will be so nice and cosy in here, won't it?

00.11.22

[Daisy] Me over there, you sleeping over here.  

00.11.25

The first day that Jane came here I showed her that there's cameras in the kitchen

00.11.31

And she said, 'oh it's a bit like Big Brother' and then she did the voice of Big Brother

00.11.36

Going -

00.11.38

I can't do the voice.

00.11.40

Jane didn't say that: 'I can't do the voice'

00.11.48

I'm going to sleep now.

00.11.50

Yeah, she's so tired.

00.11.52

Night, night. Love you.

00.11.54

I don't like - I'm worried we’ve all got to sleep in the same room. 

00.11.57

And she needs her sleep.

00.11.59

No I'm fine. Night, love you.

00.12.00

[Laughter]

00.12.05

[Music]

00.12.19

[Beverly] I just thought that I could sort this one… It's not going to happen. We're not going to live in a hostel.

00.12.29

[Beverly] And here we are.

00.12.35

[Bronte] Thank you.

00.12.39

[Daisy] Do you like living here because you can just eat take away food every day?

00.12.45

[Bronte] I try to eat healthily. 

00.12.51

[Bronte] No, its not like I eat shocking.

00.12.56

[Beverly] I've got an appointment at the council at three o'clock.

00.13.02

[Bronte] And I'll be there.

00.13.04

[Beverly] And she wants to come as well.

00.13.06

[Daisy] Why do you want to go as well?

00.13.09

I want to hear what she has to say.

00.13.11

[Daisy] About what?

00.13.11

[Beverly] Yeah, we've received a letter to say we've been accepted -

00.13.13

[Bronte] Everything.

00.13.15

[Beverly] Thank God… Yeah, exactly.

00.13.17

[Beverly] Now I can ask different questions and find out exactly what band are we in, what I can do, what I can't do.

00.13.26

Whether I can bid, or if I've got wait, you know. So, yeah, I can ask those questions now.

00.13.33

[Tap running]

00.13.40

[Daisy] Has living through this made you want to do anything differently?

00.13.44

What do you mean?

00.13.46

[Daisy] Like, what do you think about when you… I don't know, have you learnt anything from this?

00.13.52

Yeah, that TESCOS is rubbish.

00.13.57

[Daisy] Anything else?

00.13.59

Not really. Why? Am I meant to?

00.14.18

[Daisy] So why do you think I'm making the documentary?

00.14.23

[Bronte] To show people what we're going through. And that its really bad.

00.14.31

[Daisy] But also to show that we're a strong family.

00.14.36

Yeah.

00.14.38

[Daisy] And that Bev's doing her best to make it better.

00.14.42

[Piano music]

00.15.45

[Sound of TV]

00.15.47

[Someone in corridor] Yeah, yeah…

00.15.56

[Noise from outside, doors creaking]

00.16.07

[Electric toothbrush]

00.16.12

[Beverly] There's no words that can explain the way I feel.

00.16.17

[Daisy] I think it's been a let down, hasn't it.

00.16.19

Not for me… so much, because I know what people are like.

00.16.25

Up to a point.

00.16.27

But - 

00.16.31

[Neighbour] Sorry -

00.16.33

It's all right.

00.16.42

[Daisy] Why do you want to make the documentary?

00.16.45

Just… don't know.

00.16.52

I want people to see how tough it is sometimes. Show the bath.

00.16.58

[Daisy laughs]

00.17.03

[Beverly] People don't actually know what it's like being in here.

00.17.08

And it's quite a funny thing that when you say, 'oh that we're being moved to Epping'

00.17.18

Everyone goes 'oh great!' And like… 'ok?'

00.17.20

[Daisy laughs]

00.17.25

Oh that's really good then, you know, you'll be in Epping!'

00.17.32

Yeah…

00.17.35

[Daisy and Beverly laugh]

00.17.38

Everyone wants to be upbeat about it all. It's like yeah…

00.17.41

[Daisy] We're just moving from this hostel to another hostel.

00.17.46

[Beverly] Yeah.

00.17.48

[Daisy] When you get a house what's going to be the most important thing?

00.17.55

Making it look so lovely.

00.18.01

Just - making it a home. And making it…

00.18.13

Just somewhere I want to be for, like, the rest of my life.

00.18.23

SUPER: 19th August 2013, Six weeks homeless

00.18.24

[Daisy] So what are you doing?

00.18.25

Packing the car up.

00.18.27

[Daisy] Because what?

00.18.27

[Bronte] Because we're moving. 

00.18.29

[Daisy] To where?

00.18.29

[Bronte] Hemmel House

00.18.34

[Daisy] Woo-hoo!

00.18.50

[Daisy] Are you looking forward to leaving?

00.18.52

[Beverly] Yep.

00.18.56

[Daisy] What will you miss the most about Norway House?

00.18.58

[Beverly] Absolutely nothing. Oh sorry - there's nothing that I can say that I would miss about it.

00.19.20

[String music]

00.20.01

This is going to be Mum's room.

00.20.04

[Daisy] Oh so we've actually got our own bedrooms? Like a house.

00.20.10

[Daisy] Wow!

00.20.14

[Bronte] This is going to be your room.

00.20.25

[Bronte] This is our kitchen.

00.20.27

[Daisy] Wow. So exciting.

00.20.32

[Bronte] Isn't it? It's not going to be disgusting anymore.

00.20.37

[Daisy] Isn't it so strang that you start to get excited about -

00.20.42

[Bronte] Little things like

00.20.47

And next door there's an old lady that lives there and she's been there for five years and carers just come in and look after her.

00.20.57

[Daisy] So how long have they said that we're going to live here?

00.20.59

[Bronte] Not for five years! I don't know.

00.21.04

[Sound of hoover]

00.21.09

[Daisy] Are you happier here?

00.21.12

[Bronte] Yeah.

00.21.12

[Daisy] Why are you happier here?

00.21.12

[Bronte] Because we get our own rooms. 

00.21.18

[Daisy] And how does that make a difference to you?

00.21.21

[Bronte] I don't have to go to sleep with the light on.

00.21.29

[Sound of TV and baby crying]

00.21.55

[Birds chirping]

00.22.11

SUPER: 28th August 2013, Seven weeks homeless

00.22.13

[Daisy] I hate it that you put on this make up!

00.22.15

[Bronte laughs]

00.22.15

[Daisy] I had a dream last night that someone tried to kiss you and I punched them!

00.22.18

[Laughter]

00.22.18

[Daisy] I did!

00.22.25

[Daisy] Oh you're in our lovely lounge here!

00.22.29

[Nan] Look at your legs all brown!

00.22.33

[Daisy] So, what do you think of it? Oh, we got a chair!

00.22.34

No we haven't got a chair, I'm taking it home with me when I go. I just brought it to sit on!

00.22.40

[Daisy] No you didn't!

00.22.40

I did!

00.22.42

[Daisy] Woo-hoo! We got a table! Oh my gosh, it is phenomenal!

00.22.48

[Daisy] Bev, what do you think of you're new table?

00.22.50

I can't wait to sit at it and eat dinner.

00.22.53

[Nan] And eat your dinner.

00.22.55

[Grandad] But the trouble is, when you all sit around it, all your knees will knock together! Might they?

00.23.01

[Beverly] I don't care, a table is a table.

00.23.04

I phoned about the lights today.

00.23.06

[Grandad] What the lights downstairs?

00.23.07

[Beverly] Well any light, at all!

00.23.09

[Grandad] That's bad that light downstairs…

00.23.11

[Beverly] I phoned them today and said 'could you get someone to look at the lights, there's no lights.'

00.23.17

And he said 'what about the one at the top of the stairs?'

00.23.19

And I said 'what? It doesn't work. Nothing works'.

00.23.21

[Daisy] And also there's a black bag over the one by the sign…

00.23.25

They have no idea, stuff just comes out of their mouths.

00.23.28

[Daisy] And also, I saw the sign on the bin.

00.23.31

Yeah, that's an insult.

00.23.34

[Daisy] They wouldn't write that on a posh persons bin.

00.23.35

[Beverly] No.

00.23.35

[Nan] What?

00.23.37

[Beverly] Someone's written on the bin, 'recycling only, it's not hard.'

00.23.40

Have they? Oh, I didn't see that.

00.23.48

[Daisy] Bit in the trees isn't it?

00.23.50

[Beverly] It's like scummy.

00.23.55

[Daisy] I was so excited.

00.23.27

[Laughter]

00.23.58

[Beverly] I'm so sorry!

00.24.04

[Beverly] It's, like, from one extreme: cameras, lights everywhere to this.

00.24.12

[Daisy] Hansel and Grettel's thing in the woods.

00.24.16

[Beverly] And its ok - it's probably ok - if you've got a partner.

00.24.26

But, I've got this out -

00.24.29

[Daisy laughs]

00.24.31

I'n just going to stand like this all night. Eh? Right, you lot go to sleep and I'll be here, ready for you when you come.

00.24.44

[Laughter]

00.24.46

[Bronte] What is the plan?

00.24.48

[Daisy] Well you're going to stay here in the morning?

00.24.48

[Bronte] Where else am I going to go?

00.24.52

[Daisy] You don't want to stay here.

00.25.56

No. I don't want to be left here on my own, because I'm scared. 

00.25.01

It's bigger and there's more rooms and there's no cameras, or anything. I just don't want to be here on my own.

00.25.17

[Beverly] Bron' there are options. There are options but you don't want to take them.

00.25.21

I haven't been offered any options.

00.25.24

[Beverly] Well, I've just said stay here. 

00.25.26

Yeah you have. You didn't say any other options.

00.25.31

[Beverly] Everything that happens she blames me for.

00.25.34

I haven't blamed you for anything, Mum!

00.25.36

[Beverly] You do.

00.25.44

I don't! But today I just feel like you're trying to pick an argument! Like I was sitting there and I said something and you would go, 'Ugh, don't start an argument, always arguing and answering back.'

00.25.51

When I didn't say anything! No words came out of my mouth.

00.25.57

[Beverly] What like just now? I've not actually said anything.

00.26.06

[Daisy] What's that face?

00.26.12

Cause she's being stupid, she knows she said something.

00.26.14

[Piano music]

00.27.11

This is like one extreme to another

00.27.15

because the other hostel in Northweild they've got people constantly working on it, constantly renovating it. Is that because it's on display and people can see it? 

00.27.26

And this is tucked away and no one can see it.

00.27.29

[Daisy] So how much rent do you pay a week?

00.27.32

I pay one hundred and twelve pounds plus my council tax.

00.27.36

This month's rent is five hundred and forty-five by calendar week - calendar month. 

00.27.44

[Daisy] So you keep to your part of the bargain but the council don't keep to theirs.

00.27.47

No, they don't appear to do they?

00.27.57

[Beverly] ...The whole family is living in one room downstairs.

00.28.02

[Beverly] They did inform me initially that health and safety wise it would be feasible for young children to come up the steps.    

00.28.10

When you think that there's a lady downstairs and she's got a five year old, a three year old and a new born baby and they're all living in one room. That's dire circumstances. 

00.28.27

[Baby crying]

00.28.48

I don't know how this is going to work out, but… 

99.28.52

That will do.

00.29.27

[Sigh]

00.29.34

[Piano music]

00.30.00

SUPER: 3rd September 2013 Eight weeks homeless

00.30.01

How many council people does it take to change a lightbulb? And this is not a joke, this is deadly serious. This is where our money goes.

00.30.09

So this is the light in the bathroom, obviously, that one up there. 

00.30.15

And the bulb went. And I tried before to try get the covering off and I couldn't get it off. So I phoned Norway House. 

00.30.21

Hello. This is Beverly Hudson. This sounds really stupid but the lightbulb has gone in the bathroom and I don't really know how to change it.

00.30.28

Oh ok, well you need to change to the out of hours line at the council, because otherwise it will take about two weeks to get someone out to do it.'

00.30.38

Ok, thank you. Right so in the evening, I phone up the out of hours line at the council feeling like a complete twit. So a lady picks up the phone.

00.30.50

Hello?' Er yeah, my lightbulb has gone in my bathroom . Sorry it sounds really stupid but I can't change it myself because its one of those, like, covers that I can't get off.

00.31.00

Oh ok, I'll get someone out to do that for you. Name and address'. Name and address. Ok, thank you, bye. Second phone call.

00.31.09

Later on that evening, I got another message from - oh might need to get a chair - I got another message from a young lady on my phone.

00.31.20

'Hello. I understand you need your bulb changing.' Yes, I do. And she said, 'Oh ok, well will you be in this morning?' And I said, no sorry, I've got work this morning.

00.31.31

So she said, 'Oh ok. Well if I speak really nicely to one of my engineers he could probably come and do it at three o'clock. Will there be someone there at three o'clock?'

00.31.40

I said, yeah. Do you just pull this out? 

00.31.43

[Daisy] Be careful. Don't electrocute yourself.

00.31.43

[Beverly] I know.

00.31.45

We had a little postcard through the letterbox saying: missed you today, please rearrange your appointment.

00.31.52

So yesterday morning, phoned up the maintenance people. Oh listen here…

00.31.59

To cut a long story short, we had a long conversation about a light bulb and in the end she said, 'we don't change lightbulbs.'

00.32.08

Oh heavy!

00.32.11

[Bronte singing]

00.32.16

I like spending time with you like today.

00.32.19

[Daisy] Do you?

00.32.21

Yeah, I just enjoy it 'cause haven't really spent proper time with you for three years.

00.32.27

[Daisy] So you're happy in here as long as you're with me - 

00.32.29

[Bronte] Yeah.

00.32.29

[Daisy] And Mum.

00.32.29

[Bronte] Yeah.

00.32.32

[Daisy] Do you ever get sad?

00.32.35

Nothing to get sad over really. Been there, done that. 

00.32.40

Just have to get through it.

00.32.46

I just want to know where it will be and what it will look like.

00.32.53

Excuse me, you didn't help me pack away.

00.32.57

[Daisy laughs]

00.32.58

[Daisy] I'm going to cook dinner though.

00.33.00

Touche.

00.33.03

[Laughter]

00.33.11

[Beverly] Just by chance I thought I'd go past Regent Road to see if there was any mail in there that I've not been allowed to collect.

00.33.17

SUPER: 14th September 2013 Ten weeks homeless

00.33.23

And as I drove past there was some little pip squeak coming out the door. So I went and explained who I was.

00.33.31

And he looked at me - didn't he look at me like I was something coming off the bottom of his shoe?

00.33.35

He wouldn't let me go into the house, he was sorting it out himself and now he said the rest was junk mail.

00.33.43

And I said, oh well can I have a look through? And he went, 'well I don't think you really can.'

00.33.49

And I should have just been a bit more forceful and said yeah I can 'cause it's my mail.

00.33.53

I don't want to be taken to court for unpayment of bills, when I literally couldn't get them because

00.34.00

I phoned British Gas and I phoned the electric company gave them my last reading and told them I was moving out - and where do they send...?

00.34.10

And I gave them Dad and Carol's address and where do they send the correspondence? Back to the house.

00.34.18

That I've moved out of. Look, British Gas. British Gas. But I've moved. British Gas.

00.34.28

And then that jumped up little pip squeak says 'oh I think you should tell Santander that you've moved' 

00.34.38

And a letter from Epping Forrest Distric Council: 'Reminder you must re-register your housing application, Mrs. Hudson.'

00.34.48

But I'm living in your temporary accommodation, Epping Forrest Council. Have you not put two and two together?

00.35.00

I don't live there anymore, you have re-housed me in temporary accommodation.

00.35.14

How worrying is that?

00.35.22

[String music]

00.35.33

[Beverly] I think I was really really naïve.

00.35.38

I think I've been naïve quite a lot of my life.

00.35.42

[Laughter]

00.35.42

I felt like I'd really really let you both down, which I've never that in my life before with you two. Think I've always done the best I ever could.

00.36.09

I want to get Bronte out of here as soon as possible so that she can go to sleep properly.

00.36.18

You know I think she sleeps, but as soon as she wakes up, she phones me as she walks from room to room. She's like, 'can you please stay talking to me whilst I get all my stuff together.'

00.36.31

I think it does affect her. She won't really say. She locks things away, because that's what she's always had to do. 

00.36.42

I wanted to change schools. I think its very important to her because she wants to feel secure and she needs friends.

00.36.55

[Daisy] We'll get through, won't we? So close. 

00.37.00

[Beverly] Don't know how close, do we?

00.37.10

[Beverly] Don't know how close.

00.37.17

[Daisy] Has there been any recent developments?

00.37.21

No, not a peep.

00.37.27

SUPER: 30th September 2013 Twelve weeks homeless

00.37.32

[Daisy] It just seems like not… there's not really anyone

00.37.37

Nothing you do changes anything.

00.37.44

Don't even want to talk about it.

00.37.49

[Daisy] But I think we… I don't know - because it gets to the point whether, where we don't say anthing because we don't want to seem pushy but then you want to say something because

00.38.03

I mean actually at this moment I don't wan to talk about it because I don't feel very well

00.38.08

[Daisy] Ok…

00.38.08

[Beverly] And I…

00.38.16

[Daisy] I thought I was writing the letter tonight?

00.38.20

Someone said to me send emails to all different departments. Like send an email to the head of housing, and the allocations and then someone else.

00.38.30

And then the homeless woman. They said send the email to everyone to say what is going on?

00.38.40

Then hopefully someone will respond and they will pass it on to someone else.

00.38.56

[Daisy] Yeah, because all we want to know is that someone knows what's happening.

00.39.01

Acknowledge our existance.

00.39.06

[Daisy] Yeah.

00.39.10

[Typing]

00.39.12

[Daisy] Hello, my name is Beverly Hudson. I'm living with my two girls at Flat Nine, Three Bell Common. 

00.39.17

I'm so grateful for this accommodation but the lack of being told anything is causing me severe stress.

00.39.22

I'm feeling extremely anxious and desperate to hear from one person that they are looking after my case.

00.39.27

And that I am moving, however slowly, up a list to get a home for me and my children.

00.39.32

Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you.

00.39.34

Warm regards, Beverly Hudson.

00.39.57

[Sound of TV]

00.40.09

[Daisy] Like for you, what's important when you're here?

00.40.12

[Bronte] Looking after Mum, because I feel like she copes but not amazingly well.

00.40.21

[Daisy] But do you think that's your job?

00.40.26

What looking after her? Partly, 'cause she's meant to be looking after me. She does, but I feel like I look after her more.

00.40.36

[Daisy] What? Do you mean like emotional support or -

00.40.40

[Bronte] Yeah. I feel like we're both husbands.

00.40.45

[Daisy] Bevver's husbands?

00.45.47

Yeah.

00.40.52

[Bronte] This week, everytime I saw her I just wanted to cry.

00.40.55

[Daisy] Why?

00.40.56

[Bronte] I don't know.

00.40.58

[Daisy] Was it everytime you saw her or evertime you saw the house?

00.41.01

[Bronte] No, everytime I saw her.

00.41.08

[Beverly] Oh God, look its everywhere.

00.41.17

A reply!

00.41.20

[Daisy] What?

00.41.25

[Daisy] Many thanks for your enquiry… I've forwarded it to the relevant department who will contact you about it in due course!

00.41.27

[Beverly] What is - what is all that about? All they ever say: 'in due course'.

00.31.32

I will contact you in due course. I don't understand what that means. What is due course?

00.41.39

Many thanks for your enquiry'. What am I enquiring about?

00.41.43

My life. Living here.

00.41.47

It's not an enquiry about emptying my bins.

00.41.53

Everything they do is in insulting.

00.42.01

[On screen] 'who will contact you abou tit in due course.'

00.42.03

[Bronte crying]

00.42.27

[Beverly] If they said, 'oh can you do this for six weeks? Or, can you do this for three months? And then at the end of it you will get somewhere to live.

00.42.40

[Daisy] Even if they showed us a picture of our house. Just something to see the end -

00.42.46

The carrot. Dangle me a carrot.

00.42.52

Its like, yeah, show me a little carrot. And I'll be going, oh yes. Ok. Ok.

00.43.03

I can live with it. I might put a blind up, because, you know. I know what I've got to do. Know how long its going to take.

00.43.19

[Daisy] Do you have any space that you see as a safe space?

00.43.26

Um… just trying to think really, no. It's just, I suppose its anywhere I don't think about it.

00.43.42

So, just like… when I go to Jane's, just people who know that… when I go there, I'm just myself. How I used to be.  

00.44.08

[String music]

00.44.22

SUPER: 27th November 2013 20 weeks homeless

00.44.28

[Daisy sings] Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Bronte. Happy birthday to you!

00.44.40

Thank you.

00.44.43

[Daisy] Hey, the big 1-4.

00.44.52

[Sound of TV]

00.44.53

[Piano music]

00.45.13

[Tannoy] Change here for the District and Hammersmith and City Lines

00.45.47

[Water running]

00.45.59

[Daisy] I always used to go to bed with wet hair.

00.46.01

[Beverly] Yeah, I know, but not that wet where you've literally washed it and now you're laying on your pillow.

00.46.06

[Bronte] No, I dried it with a towel.

00.46.09

Oh, what is that big thing flying about in here?

00.46.12

[Daisy] A fly.

00.46.16

[Spraying]

00.46.16

[Beverly] Bastard! Die!

00.46.20

[Bronte] Can you turn off the light?

00.46.20

[Daisy] Yes! You're not spraying it on the fly?

00.46.25

[Beverly] I am -

00.46.25

[Daisy] You're not! It's up here and you're spraying it down there.

00.46.29

[Beverly] Yeah, because I don't want to spray it at you! Do I?

00.46.33

[Bronte] It's in here now! [whispering] Is she ok?

00.46.37

[Daisy] Who Mum?

00.46.37

[Bronte] Yeah?

00.46.42

[Beverly] Where is it? Still flying around? It is dying.

00.46.47

[Bronte] Night night.

00.46.50

[Beverly] She's like the most unaffectionate person in the whole world.

00.46.56

[Bronte] I just said goodnight and then you create a whole scene about the fly when you could have just sprayed it.

00.47.00

[Door slams]

00.47.06

[Bronte to Daisy] To be honest, my birthday wasn't the best.

00.47.09

[Daisy] Why?

00.47.13

[Bronte, crying] It was just a rubbish birthday.

00.47.21

[Daisy] It's just 'cause it was a school night. Wednesday's are the worst for birthdays.

00.47.30

[Bronte] I feel like I'm drifting away from her.

00.47.34

[Daisy] Do you?

00.47.34

[Bronte] Yeah. I feel like she's always annoyed at me.

00.47.41

[Daisy] About what?

00.47.41

[Bronte] I don't know. I'm just fed up of being here.

00.48.01

[Beverly] I don't know. I just feel like I want to smash the whole world up.

00.48.08

We haven't actually done anything wrong. If I have done bits wrong in my life and I need a bit of punishment then, then ok that's fine. But now give me a break. Let me have my life back.

00.48.36

And let's be back to normal.

00.48.45

[Bronte] So we celebrate Christmas because Jesus was born, yeah? But why Father Christmas that's random.

00.48.54

[Beverly] Father Christmas is a fairy story!

00.48.57

[Bronte] But why did they choose to create him for Christmas? It should be Jesus, because Jesus was born on that day so therefore he should be giving everyone presents to celebrate his birth. Shouldn't he? Not some man called Father Christmas.

00.49.16

Giving out presents for no reason.

00.49.19

[Daisy laughing]

00.49.23

[Beverly] Ta-da!

00.49.27

[Daisy] That's a lovely Christmas display you've got.

00.49.29

[Beverly] Fantastic

00.49.32

[Daisy] Why are you limiting them just to the shelf?

00.49.35

[Beverly] It's nice and compact and you can just keep the Christmas bit there. You wouldn't really want to… you don't just kind of… want to place all your cards willy nilly round somewhere that's not permenant.

00.49.55

It's quite - I don't know - just a strange feeling. Just feel if the cards are all there, that's fine.

00.50.00

[Daisy] So where are you going on Sunday?

00.50.02

[Beverly] Sunday? We are going to look after someone's house who is going to Australia.

00.50.11

It's not people that I know. It's friends of - friends of yours, Daisy's. Who have really kindly said that we can stay there. I think we're kind of helping them as well 'cause we're looking after the cat. 

00.50.26

So they've really kindly said that we can stay at their house for a week.

00.50.29

So, that will be lovely to… just be out of here and pretend, we can pretend we're in a hotel and be normal.

00.50.42

[String music]

00.50.44

[Beverly] And just do normal stuff like cook dinners and sit around the table and sit on the setee, eat together, walk around the roads, go to the shops…

00.52.38

[Sound of traffic]

00.53.00

[Birds chirping]

00.53.00

SUPER: 8th January 2014 26 weeks homeless

00.53.43

She said 'well the keys will be here and the property is in… the property is in Chigwell.'  

00.53.49

I said, Chigwell, ok… Can you give me the address? She said, 'No we don't give you the address until you come and pick up the keys.' 

00.54.00

And I said, but my daughter goes to school in Epping. I don't get it. I have a file in the council offices of everything that's gone on. 

00.54.14

In our life. And a statement, a huge statement that someone wrote… why would they expect us to live in Chigwell?

00.54.30

[Beverly] Do you know that after I got over the shock and shaking I want to go and have a look because I just think get me out of this hell hole. 

00.54.40

Get me out of this system, get me out of people just… controlling my life. Me not knowing, us not knowing. 

00.54.56

[Daisy] When are they expecting us to move?

00.54.59

Should be Monday really.

00.55.32

[Muffled talking]

00.55.56

[String music]

00.56.07

[Floor creaking]

00.56.26

I feel like I'm being ungrateful, but I'm not - I can't…

00.56.51

[Daisy] 'If you refuse an offer…'

00.56.56

[Beverly] of settled housing because you feel it is unsuitable and the council says it won't help you anymore you can ask for a review. 

00.57.00

[Daisy] If the review is successful, the council still have to help you housing, if the review is unsuccessful they won't have to help you anymore.

00.57.10

[Daisy] And then I read another bit that said they advise that whilst your review is going through you accept the housing offer

00.57.15

[Daisy] And then when you're in there you can ask for a transfer or an exchange 

00.57.21

I can't move in there. I just can't move in there. It's not an option. 

00.57.26

This is the way I feel: I'm not moving out of here, at the moment. I'm not moving in there.

00.57.33

I'm grateful for the offer, but it's not an option to live there: it's dangerous, it's not where we come from, Bronte can't get to school…

00.57.46

I couldn't leave her in there… no.

00.57.55

Oh this is… that's how many lines you get…

00.58.00

[Daisy] What? To say why 'My reasons are as follows...' 

00.58.03

[Beverly] Three lines

00.58.06

And this has got to be quite cleverly worded, this thing.

00.58.12

[Daisy] When I was looking at the Shelter website, we can't put about - you saying that you were born in Epping - that is too emotive.

00.58.19

[Daisy] You've got to say that Bronte is going through a really important part in her education and it would be super destructive.

00.58.26

[Daisy] Also, because she got bullied out of Roden Valley, the fact that she'll have to get a train past Loughton to go to school in Epping where as here, when she lived here, she didn't have to…

00.58.36

But this has got to be in by Monday

00.58.39

[Daisy] Yeah, I know. It won't take me long. I've already written half of it.

00.58.44

My little genius.

00.58.49

[Daisy laughs] Stop it.

00.58.50

[Sound of traffic]

00.58.54

[Beverly] Oh, hello. Um, I'm bringing in… um a form of refusal.

00.59.03

[Beverly on phone] I've just gone in there and this housing officer

00.59.09

has gone and said 'I want you to be completely clear about the decision you're making, 'cause if your review is not accepted we know that they'll no longer be able to offer you any accommodation'.

00.59.26

So I explained to her about the stabbing and she said on those grounds I don't think that you'll get a review because hundreds of families live on that estate and stabbings go on all over the place.

00.59.40

Ok, I'm going to go and take it in then. Sorry, they just intimidate me so much.

00.59.49

[Sound of birds]

01.00.00

[Talking on TV]

01.00.21

[Water running]

01.00.32

I feel like a bit not needed anymore. I'm very aware that she's probably unhappy being here, so I have to let her go to Sarah's house more because I think she's happier.

01.00.53

[Beverly] You know, I don't feel that I'm that in control of her really.

01.00.59

But then I think you go through that really and hopefully in a few years time I'll be her friend again.

01.01.06

I was thinking, we need to liven this documentary up. It's really, really dull and miserable and boring.

01.01.14

[Beverly] Yeah.

01.01.16

All you talk about is gloom and doom stuff.

01.01.19

[Daisy] What's doom and gloom?

01.01.22

[Putting on voice] How do you feel about this whole situation that you are in in the minute? How are you feeling in this moment in time? 

01.01.30

Blah, blah, blah.

01.01.24

[Laughter]

01.01.37

[Bronte hums]

01.01.42

[Noise of traffic]

01.01.55

I think Bron' will be home in a minute.

01.01.55

SUPER: 4th March 2014 34 weeks homeless

01.01.57

Shall I open it quickly?

01.02.04

Right this is the letter that I've been waiting two months for, we have been waiting two months for.

01.02.13

[Daisy] I'm literally shaking

01.02.16

I confirm that I'm authorised to consider… I refer to my letter dated 23rd January 2014, which explained that I accepted your letter received by the council On 13th January 2014 as a request for a section 2000 review under the Housing Act 1996, ammended by section eight of the Homelessness Act of 2002…

01.02.41

[Daisy] Wait -

01.02.43

[Beverly slams]

01.02.43

[Daisy] What?

01.02.47

They've turned it down

01.02.49

[Daisy] What?

01.02.51

I'm now able to inform you that I'm upholding the decision of the housing options manager and agree with him that the accommodation offered to you is suitable.

01.03.01

It wasn't a 'he', it was a woman.

01.03.06

[Daisy] It is absolutely not suitable.

01.03.10

I will now answer the points that you have raised about your daughter's education. Firstly, I do not accept that when making the journey from Chigwell to your child's current school you would pass her old school in Loughton

01.03.20

If you have concerns about your vulnerable fourteen year old daughter travelling to school alone you could arrange for her to be accompanied'

01.03.29

[Daisy] By who?

01.03.30

I refer now to the letter received from the inclusions manager at Epping St John's School that points out that your daughter is in the process of choosing her options for her GCSE's and the next two years would be extremely important to her education and it is e

01.03.50

The council is asked to consider looking for accommodation nearer to the school.

01.03.55

I have noted that your daughter is of fourteen years of age and therefore will not be close to taking her GCSE examinations.

01.04.04

Having considered the matter I do not believe if you choose to do so it will be unreasonable to ask your child to move schools as she is not at a particularly crucial stage of her education. 

01.04.12

[Daisy] They're saying she should move schools?

01.04.16

Are they effing mental?

01.04.19

Due to your refusal of the offer of permenant accommodation, the council's homelessness duty has been discharged. I will be passing your case back to the housing operations manager who will be making arrangements to take possession proceedings of your current temporary accommodation.

01.04.37

If you are dissatisfied with this decision, you may appeal to the county court on a point of law. Any application for appeal must be made in twenty-one days of this letter.

01.04.56

[Crying]

01.05.10

[Knocking]

01.05.10

[Daisy] Wait, Bron'

01.05.12

[Bronte inaudible]

01.05.14

[Daisy] No, can you just wait a minute please -

01.05.22

[Daisy] It's the most unfair system I've ever experienced… It's out… they've got all the power, they don't have to answer to anyone.

01.05.31

No…

01.05.31

[Daisy] Who's that guy that says about our mental health situation? [Crying]

01.05.47

[Daisy] How can someone living outside of it know? They don't know.

01.05.52

I know.

01.06.12

I don't know what to do. 

01.06.21

[Noise of TV]

01.06.24

[Daisy] What's up?

01.06.26

No one will tell me what's going on.

01.06.30

[Daisy] We just got a letter and it's just not what we expected to hear about something…

01.06.36

We're not getting a house? We're going to be homeless?

01.06.48

Don't worry.

01.06.50

[Crying] Because you never tell me anything…

01.06.54

I have told you a bit, I don't want you to worry - 

01.06.56

No but Daisy was crying -

01.06.57

Because it's a bit of a shock really.

01.07.05

I want a pancake. 

01.07.07

[Daisy laughs]

01.07.08

[Beverly] Right, you have a bath and I'll make you a pancake. Ok?

01.07.14

[String music]

01.07.35

We've got to go to court haven't we? We've got nowhere to go.

01.07.46

Nowhere to go.

01.08.09

I was reading these print outs, they've got government reccomendations and guidelines for local authorities…

01.08.17

[Daisy] So the homeless act -

01.08.18

[Beverly] homeless code of conduct for local authorities that says the secretary of states reccomends that local authorities take into account the need to minimise the disruption of education of young people… 

01.08.30

Housing authorities should avoid placing applicants in isolated accommodation away from public transport, shops and other facilities.

01.08.36

And where possible to secure accommodation as close as possible to where they were previously living… so they can retain established links with schools, doctors, social workers and other key services and support that is essential to the well-being of the household.

01.08.57

It's there in black and white.

01.09.02

[Noise of traffic]

01.09.08

[Beverly on phone] There was one question that I could ask you: they've said they'd start proceedings of eviction from the temporary accommodation, can they start that before the twenty-one days? Or do they have to wait for the twenty-one days? 

01.09.29

[Beverly] Ok, even though I have a child… ok.

01.09.40

Ok. Ok. All right then, so I need to go back in and sign that form… ok, all right then. Thank you. Bye.

01.09.52

[Beverly] Basically, he hands all the information over to the barrister, if the barrister thinks we've got a case he'll take it on. If he doesn't, he won't.

01.10.05

[Daisy] And then what about our right if… if we've got a child?

01.10.18

A child? Well, um, I've got to go to social services because she'll then be a child in need, a homeless child in need and then they have to help… because she's a homeless child in need.

01.10.28

[Daisy] So then what would happen?

01.10.30

Well they'll go to the council…

01.10.46

[Voices from TV]

01.10.46

SUPER: 1st May 2014 42 weeks homeless

01.10.56

[Daisy] What makes you happy?

01.10.58

[Bronte] I don't know! I just like being with my friends.

01.11.05

I like it 'cause I'm growing up and I've not got the limits that I used to have. So, it's better.

01.11.15

Piers, he lives in the nicest house ever. And its big and its got three floors and like a hundred rooms. And the first time we went to his house, he used to joke about living in a council flat… and I was just like [inhales] ok. Great.

01.11.36

[Bronte] I've learnt to block most things out.

01.11.38

[Daisy] What all feelings?

01.11.40

[Bronte] Yeah.

01.11.42

[Daisy] Me too.

01.11.44

[Bronte] No, but I've got more feelings than you. They're down in my feet.

01.11.49

[Daisy] What, your feelings?

01.11.51

[Bronte] Yeah. Too far to get back up. Can't wait for summer! Get to go to the fair. And when you stay until, like, the last ten minutes of the fair being open, they give free rides and make everything go super duper fast.

01.12.09

[Teeth brushing]

01.12.09

[String music]

01.12.27

[Beverly] Hi.

01.12.29

[Daisy] Oh hello.

01.12.32

[Beverly] No papparazzi, thanks. God, yes.

01.12.42

[Daisy] Turn it around.

01.12.48

[Beverly] Yes!

01.12.55

[Daisy] What does it say? What does it say?

01.12.57

[Beverly] It says I would advise that Ms Hudson has good prospects of success on appeal. Accordingly, I do not hesitate to advise the legal aid agency that… [inaudible]

01.13.15

It's just crazy because I'm so pleased. [Crying]. I feel happy because I'm going to win, we're going to win.

01.13.35

[Daisy]Yes, Bevva! Woop woop!

01.13.37

I've not doubted that we're going to win but I just need to um… have it in writing and know that that’s what's going to happen.

01.13.50

[Daisy] And that someone thought that our case was worth while.

01.13.50

Yeah.

01.13.52

[Piano music]

01.14.10

[Sound of banging] 

01.14.13

[Daisy] They're doing a big bulk move out of us all?

01.14.15

[Neighbour] They have haven't they? Clearing us all out. Mind you its not a bad thing I suppose, [we've] been here long enough.

01.14.20

[Daisy] Yeah!

01.14.32

[Beverly, on phone] Hello, John? It's Beverly. Yeah, I'm all right. I just wanted to phone to see how you're getting on really.

01.14.40

[John] The flat itself is nice, it's not too bad, but it's filthy.

01.14.42

[Beverly] Yeah.

01.14.44

[John] You know they come into Norway House and they've got a cleaner to come into Hemnall House, so surely they should have a cleaner to come in and clean this. When I went down to them Friday I said to them, look you've put in the furthest place I can. Look I've got no vehicle so I can't drive. I've already travelled forty minutes on the bus, I've been late twice.

01.15.01

[Beverly] Is that just to get to the railway station or can you get a bus to work?

01.15.04

[John] No, that's just to get to the railway station.

01.15.07

[Beverly] Oh my god. Have you asked for a referral or are you not going to?

01.15.10

[John] No, I am going to. I've got to get back to them in three weeks and I've had a week already.

01.15.14

[Beverly] Right well I've got something: where for example applicants are in paid employment account will need to be taken of their need to reach their normal workplace from the accommodation secured. And that's the law. So -

01.15.31

[John] You know that does affect us, me and my boy, it is that bad. You know? And then what they've also done is they've taken my overtime away, because to get into work I can't physically get in on a Sunday… I have to get a taxi into work. You know? It's just ridiculous.

01.15.46

[Beverly] I know.

01.15.48

[Birds chirping]

01.16.05

[Beverly] The thing that worries me most is being in this system. And, having no time limits and having no one on our side and having so little - wait until the court case. And, then what do we do? Go to the bottom of the list or go to the top of the list?

01.16.30

[Beverly] Deb said to me on Saturday, 'I don't know how you just haven't given up and just go and rent somewhere'. I say to her - she means well - I said, 'I can't afford to go and rent somewhere.' She went, 'oh'.

01.16.54

You know I think I can of deal with it all in my own way and take my time out to relax. Like last night, I did relax, I got a bit of dinner and sat here for a while and have a nod off and stuff, but then… I wake up in the middle of the night on my own here and I hate it.

01.17.26

SUPER: 23rd May 2014 46 weeks homeless

01.17.29

You know the the council have decided to not go to court because I presume they know that they will not win, because they're in the wrong. And they've decided to make us a further offer with a property in due course.

01.17.52

Its such a difficult thing to explain because I think that when I knew that we had the court date then I didn't have to worry about anything, because, um…

01.18.04

[Daisy] There was a goal.

01.18.06

 There was a goal and a set date and I have nothing to worry about until that day.

01.18.12

[Daisy] That's how I felt too.

01.18.13

Yeah. And so it was like, we're going to get to that date and we're going to go to court and we are going to win. Um, that's exactly how I felt. And then when you phoned me and told me, um, it was like all of a sudden all the power had gone and the power had gone back to the council. I know we won, but I don't know what that win will bring us. I don't know whether it will bring us something good, or it will annoy them and...

01.18.49

[Daisy] They will be, they were in the wrong. They didn't do their job correctly and they'll now be freaking out, which is why they backed out of court.

01.18.56

Yeah but what's the punishment? Who's punishing them? That's - that's - who's punshing them? No ones been held… um…

01.19.05

[Daisy] Accountable.

01.19.08

No one. They just backed out. If you think of how they treated us, like the letter that said this is your… take this or you'll get evicted. Then we've got this letter and in between noone's even contacted us, said sorry, apologised. No compassion.

01.19.40

[Daisy] Spoken on the phone…

01.19.40

Spoken on the phone… Nothing!

01.19.44

[Daisy] We've had two letters. Not even met our lawyer face to face.

01.19.49

No… Got a nice voice though, hasn't he?

01.19.53

[Daisy] Lovely voice, yeah.

01.19.56

I'd love to put a face to the voice.

01.20.00

SUPER: 10th June 2014 48 weeks homeless

01.20.20

That's the legal bill, which they've sent for me to approve, but I don't understand half of it it. It looks like it all adds up to fifteen thousand pounds which they're asking the council to pay.

01.20.32

[Daisy] Fifteen thousand pounds is a deposit for a house.

01.20.40

[Beverly] Our three letters were eighty pounds and ten pence. One long telephone call discussing the offer to settle, explaining the note of instructions, eight minutes was eighty pounds and ten pence.

01.20.52

[Daisy gasps] No!

01.20.56

That was you. They've got pages and pages of it. Cost of preparing the bill -

01.21.00

[Daisy] Cost of preparing the bill!

01.21.02

The profit costs, counsel's fees, yeah, fifteen thousand, five hundred and fifty-nine pounds and forty pence. 

01.21.04

[Piano music]

01.21.14

[Daisy] Does it make you angry?

01.21.14

Yeah, the whole… everything makes me angry, I'm just… 

01.21.39

[Teeth brushing]

01.22.15

SUPER: 26th June 2014 50 weeks homeless

01.22.15

At the beginning of the week I was really panicking, like 'it's all happening, it's all happening'. I can't deal with it and I don't know what to do. But now I just feel like its coming altogether and the place is looking all clean and bright and looks like a home.

01.22.39

[Daisy laughs]

01.22.41

I've got tooth ache, it really hurts.

01.22.44

[Daisy] You've not said that!

01.22.46

I know, it looks really nice. It's nearly all over.

01.22.58

[Sound of moving]

01.23.07

[Grandad inaudible]

01.23.10

[Grandad on the phone] Well you know Bev she's just moved into a flat on the weekend and we've got to put some blinds up and shifting some gear.

01.23.18

[Beverly] That colour?

01.23.20

[Daisy] Yeah.

01.23.22

[Banging]

01.23.25

[Beverly] What have I got to look at? I like that.

01.23.28

[Lloyd] Yeah, this is for the kitchen, this is probably best out in the hallway. That lobby bit outside.

01.23.32

[Beverly] Yeah, yeah.

01.23.33

[Hoover]

01.23.33

[Beverly] Yeah, very exciting. You know Bronte doesn't know yet.

01.23.38

[Lloyd] She doesn't know?

01.23.39

[Beverly] Yeah, she's been on a school trip.

01.23.40

[Lloyd] So she's going to come back here and its all done?

01.23.42

[Beverly] Yeah.

01.23.44

[Jane] How can you send someone in to live in a place like that? Say Mum had no money whatsoever, she would have to live with these walls with half wallpaper ripped off. Look at that, no flooring and ripped off paper. 

01.23.58

[Beverly] You seen these pictures, Lloyd?

01.23.59

[Lloyd] Bloody hell.

01.24.01

[Jane] Look and they just gave Bev the keys.

01.24.04

[Suitcase closing]

01.24.12

[Daisy] Welcome back!

01.24.16

Ok. No wait, I want to give you your present!

01.24.18

[Beverly] Oh, sorry!

01.24.20

[Door shutting]

01.24.26

Here, one, two, three -

01.24.28

[Daisy gasps] Oh!

01.24.28

99%!

01.24.31

[Daisy] Oh my god. How did you find that? Ta-da!

01.24.36

Oh! That is so gorgeous.

01.24.44

[Bronte] And then I thought when you had a cup of coffee with it or a cup of tea, you might want one of those.

01.24.47

[Daisy] Biscotti!

01.24.50

[Beverly] My favourite! You are the most thoughtful!

01.24.56

Oh it's in a… I tried snails!

01.25.02

[Daisy] Yeah, how were they?

01.25.04

They were yummy.

01.25.05

[Daisy] How's the french?

01.25.07

Err…

01.25.07

[Beverly] Do you like Paris?

01.25.09

Mmm, I wouldn't like to go again, I don't think, but I took some amazing photos.

01.25.18

[Bronte] Wait, why are we going this way?

01.25.21

[Beverly] We've got something to go and show you.

01.25.24

Is it in Waltham Abby?

01.25.26

[Daisy] Just see…

01.25.27

[Beverly inaudible]

01.25.29

Is it in Waltham Abby?

01.25.32

[String music]

01.25.34

[Daisy] Just going to show you it first.

01.25.50

[Daisy] I promise, promise, promise, promise it’s the best best.

01.26.52

[Keys in the lock]

01.26.56

[Beverly] Hello!

01.27.02

[Bronte] I like the colour.

01.27.09

[Bronte] It's gianormous!

01.27.12

[Beverly] That's swung it, hasn't it?

01.27.20

[Beverly laughing]

01.27.38

[Beverly] We needed to start moving forward and taking back control of our lives. So when I saw the flat, I could see it had potential. It was nice and light and big windows and luckily I was given some money because I think Dad and Carol were finally so happy that we were going to be settled.

01.27.52

SUPER: 18th October 2014 16 weeks after being rehomed

01.28.01

[Beverly] I think there is so much that's gone on emotionally that you kind of forget half of it because you probably put it away somewhere.

01.28.13

I had to, in a way, detach myself from it, from Bronte because I couldn't anything about it. And, I couldn't change our situation and we wouldn't have got through it otherwise.

01.28.30

[Bronte] It's kind of made me more mature and grown up, sort of.

01.28.36

[Daisy] What kind of life lessons do you think you've learnt from it?

01.28.40

That people don't actually say who you think they are. Like, people thought that I'm some girl from Epping with some nice house and have nice things. And, I have nice things, I'm a girl from Epping but when I close the door at home its totally different.

01.29.03

[Piano music]

01.29.05

[Beverly] I thought that there was a stereotype, homeless person, and probably they got there because of a drink or drug problem and that it was their own fault. And now I will never ever look at a homeless person in the same way. It's easy to end up like that. Much, much easier than anyone would ever imagine. I'm grateful, I'm grateful we have somewhere to live. We're still adjusting but we're getting through it. We are getting through it.

01.29.47

[Music]

SUPER: We were just one family out of thousands in the UK living without a home.

SUPER: 320,000 people are currently homeless in the UK and the number continues to rise.

SUPER: This was the first film to be presented as evidence to Parliament as part of the Housing, Communities and Local Government inquiry to provide an example of homelessness faced by so many people across the country.

[Music]

SUPER: This film is dedicated to everyone fighting for their right to a home.

Produced, Filmed and Directed by DAISY-MAY HUDSON

Produced by ALICE HUGHES CLAIRE O'NEILL

Associate Producer THEA PAULETT

Executive Producer JACQUI EDENBROW

Editor VERA SIMMONDS

Executive Producers CLAIRE GORDON, DAVID BUTLER, JEAN EDWARDS, ANDREW HALE, STEPHANIE HALE, BOB WHITE, JACKIE WHITE

Sound Designer LUKE SHREWSBURY

Composer JAMES WILLIAM BLADES

Featuring MAMA B, BRONTE, NAN, GRAMPS, JANEY, LLOYD

Additional Filming OZZIE PULLEN, ALICE HUGHES, NICHOLAS POMEROY

Additional Interview Sound DYLAN LEADLEY-WATKINS

Colourist SUE GIOVANNI

Online edit courtesy of MOLINARE

Additional Online Editor DAN BATER

Trailer Editor IAIN PETTIFER

Content Editor REUBEN JAY

The production would like to thank everyone who helped us along our journey: MYLES BEVAN, PAUL WEBSTER, CHRIS HARRIS, ROGER GRAEF, SUGA SUPPIAH, ANDY LAWRENCE, DAVID BUTLER, JAMES ROGAN, JOE MORTIMER, OLI HARBOTTLE, CHARLIE PHILLIPS, CLAIRE STRATTON, NICK GLYNN, JAMES ROBINSON, KATY PALMER, SHELTER, WENDY PHILLIPS, ANDREA AVELLINO

Thank you to everyone who generously donated to get the film made.

BEEHIVE FILMS