I’m a single mother and I want to work

Saturday 21st February 2009, 10:00AM GMT.

From Keely Hegarty.
I WRITE with reference to the article (JEP, 13 February) entitled ‘£100m for housing estates’. I am in utter shock.

As a taxpayer and middle income earner and single parent, I despair on a regular basis at what this Island will not do to help me. I currently live in a small two-bedroomed flat with my daughter.

The kitchen is so small that you cannot prepare food in it, and the bathroom is not much bigger. Unfortunately, because private rentals are so extortionate, we cannot move.

I have hounded various housing trusts, but I am constantly fobbed off and told that I am not a priority and that people on the housing list get priority.

Why then, if that is the case, do Housing not build more homes? I have worked since I was 16. I was born in the Island and have always paid my taxes. And what have I got from it? A big fat nothing.

I have to pay horrendous nursery fees but cannot get help with them from Income Support as I allegedly earn ‘too much’, so they will not entertain me.

Yet I see people in housing accommodation living a far better life while I struggle to keep myself from being bankrupted. It has got to the point that I am depressed every single day of the week through the stress of it all.

I feel that I am being discriminated against for still wanting to work and not ‘live off the state’, as many people do who really cannot be bothered to work. People can argue the case with me on this one, but I know a lot of people personally who have chosen not to work because they are better off getting Income Support and having their rent paid for them.

I am sure that Senator Le Main will, of course, get back to me with some sort of retort, but he’s okay as he lives in a nice house with his wages paid by me, the taxpayer.
A4 Perquage Court,
Sandybrook,
St Lawrence.

1
Leah Holmes

February 21, 2009 at 3:17 pm

It is uttery appalling that people can make every effort to contribute to society, abide by the laws and still be treated the way you are being treated. It annoys me greatly, and back in the UK I watched as junkies and teenage mums (ones that I know for a fact intentionally got pregnant) were given housing support over me!

We need to be discouraging the wrong decisions that people make and encourage people like yourself that make the right ones. It’s the only way to teach our children that we are responsible to the rest of society and not just ourselves.

This will be a very controversial statement but I guess you could cheer yourself up by hearing how terrible the lives of the J-Cats are? ahemmmmm, possibly not!

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2
Veronique

February 21, 2009 at 5:38 pm

I totally agree with Keely here, it is disgusting the way this island penalises people for having a bit of pride and honest morals. Especially a decent, intelligent mother like Keely.

Middle class are supporting both the rich and the poor and do not get any kind of recompense or encouragement for doing so. Not so long ago it was reported that the States had lost a major sum of money due to rents not being paid on States properties and who do you thinks pays for that?, yes the taxpayer.

Even the landlords who we rent our properties from get tax relief!! Its criminal!!

This island is constantly biting from the hand that feeds it…it would be great to just see how the Treasurer would manage if all the middle class bracket refused to work, the figures don’t even bear thinking about…

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3
David

February 22, 2009 at 12:13 pm

High cost of housing means higher rents and it always has been like this. Whilst I agree that her plight is depressing its the same for many people. Sometimes you have to ask yourself whether living in Jersey and continuing to do so is a good idea at all.

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4
Big Bean

February 22, 2009 at 1:05 pm

People like Keeley are the ones this island should be helping.

I am really sorry of your situation Keeley, and although my comments wont help feed your daughter or make life any more comfortable for you, maybe take some comfort in knowing that you have your pride and certainly my, and I think a lot of peoples respect.

Good luck

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5
JULIE

February 23, 2009 at 7:31 am

Good luck to you Keeley.I would advise you to continue as you are and keep your self respect and your head held high as annoying as it may be to see others taking everything they can get.It may not benefit you financially to work at this stage but getting out,meeting people and being involved with the outside world is far more enjoyable than sitting around all day talking about your problems on Facebook which seems to be a popular pastime of some young mothers.

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6
Nellie Macon

February 23, 2009 at 8:58 am

Prior to the recession in France, with the implementation of an excellent childcare system, 83% of women of childbearing age were in employment. Childcare funding was means tested but most people got something and lots of women were also encouraged to go into childcare as it was well paid.

More people paid taxes and the equivalent of Social Security as a result but the women were also in pocket. Now of course the work situation is dire over there but it just shows what can be achieved with a bit of thought and co-operation. Sometiems the UK isn’t the best model to follow.

Of course there are those who physically or mentally cannot work but we should be doing everything possible to help those who are trying to help themselves. If everything they earn goes to pay for childcare, rent or the taxman there’s no incentive to work is there?

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7
Kim

March 3, 2009 at 3:53 pm

Don’t think you are out there on your own. I am married and brought up four children three who are now adults. i do live in housing rental so in that area I am lucky although I pay the max bracket of rental. My husbands salery pays the rent & tax only “We are not in arrears”and he is in a states job so that shows the rental we are paying. My salary pays everything else. The board my children pay just covers the food for the month and I wonder why we are all bothering. At the end of it I brought the children up to save what they can and to work hard.i wonder if it is all worth it when I see my neighbours living on Income Surport not working and driving a 4×4.They even get to go on holiday??? There seems to be no middle bracket in Jersey and i worry where we will all end up. Has anyone thought if you reverse income surport it means surporting an income the majority are not even doing that and I am also fast becoming depressed. No one is lisitening because the majority of states members have never been in poverty or had to worry where the next penny is coming from.

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