Times’ tale leads to offer of home for Westbury woman (From Wiltshire Times)

Times’ tale leads to offer of home for Westbury woman

11:00am Saturday 20th October 2012 in News

A homeless woman, who spent three weeks living in a tent with her five dogs, has been offered shelter after her story was featured in last week’s Wiltshire Times.

Former support worker Mercedes Creed, 49, was evicted from her home in Westbury after becoming depressed after a nurse erroneously turned off the ventilator of one of her patients.

After her story appeared in last week’s Wiltshire Times, Ms Creed was contacted by a Trowbridge family – who wish to remain anonymous – who took in her and her dogs. The family visited her on Sunday to take dog food and blankets, then invited her to move in with them.

Ms Creed said: “I’m so grateful for what they’ve done. After three weeks out there, it was getting pretty miserable.”

She also paid tribute to the people of Westbury, adding: “I want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone in Westbury. “From the time it was in the paper, people have been coming up and talking to me. I have had so much assistance and lots of new friendships being formed.”

However, the future is uncertain for Ms Creed, who is still on Wiltshire Council’s housing list. She said: “There is the possibility of a property in Trow-bridge, which I’m looking into, but right now my immediate plans are to have a nice warm bath. Three weeks without one has been pretty miserable.”

James Kincaid, of Bradford on Avon, volunteered to help move Ms Creed and her dogs into her new home. He said: “My wife and I read how she wouldn’t leave her dogs and were concerned for them and how she would live rough rather than live without them. We had to do something.

“We wanted to make sure all her animals stayed with her.”

Ms Creed is critical of her treatment by the council and has vowed to consult the Government Ombudsman over the handling of her case. She said: “It’s shocking there are still homeless people here in Wiltshire. I think their response has been quite lame”.

A council spokesman said it was committed to helping Ms Creed, but it was hard to find a landlord willing to admit pets.

He added: “We are pleased Ms Creed has been offered accommodation. We remain in regular contact with her and will continue to provide assistance to ensure the move is as smooth as possible and she has access to any support she may require.”