1,000 signatures reached
To: East Renfrewshire Council
Don’t let ERC remove us from our familial home
We are reaching out to garner support in the challenge to remain in our familial home. The Smith family have been housed at Patterton Drive for 56 years and are now facing eviction from East Renfrewshire Council (ERC) due to a series of unforeseen and tragic circumstances. Help us challenge ERC in their decision to evict Hayley Caldwell and her 2 young daughters.
Why is this important?
Recently, we lost our dear, Angela Smith, who has resided at Patterton since 2009; her parents, Susan (Ann) and John, for 39 years before her. Angela faced a series of ailments in her last years, the immensity of which was never known to her or us, until it was too late. The last year has been one of our most difficult to cope with, as a family, none more so for Hayley who managed much of Angela’s affairs and dealt with her day to day care; all the while watching her mother deteriorate faster than any doctor or nurse could predict. It was decided that Hayley move into Patterton at the end of 2025, as a means of further supporting Angela when she was released from hospital. Angela sadly passed away at the end of January, before Hayley could gain automatic succession but not before Hayley had given up her private letted accomodation, where her and her 2 daughters resided. ERC have declined any and all requests by Hayley to remain within this house, have blocked her ability to pay into the rental account and instead are enforcing eviction.
Patterton has been the core of our family for 4 generations within that 56 year helm - our family is intrinsic to the history of the street. It has been a place of sanctuary that has seen most of us take our first steps, recite our alphabet for the first time, a place that has defined each and every one of us - there isn’t a family member who doesn’t recollect fondly of this place.
Hayley and her daughters deserve to remain in the home where they feel most connected to their mother/grandmother while they navigate their grief. Hayley’s strength has been nothing more than admirable in showing up every day for her girls and never faltering to prioritise them while she mourns Angela. The stress ERC have condemned her to has been entirely unjust. As a family, we are entirely sympathetic to the struggles within the current housing monopoly, but we ask that you hear us: to ERC this house is a commodity, but to us it is the beating heart which connects us familially and to our local community. Don’t let it be taken from us.
