THIS is the heartwarming moment a girl facing eviction after her mum died from Covid is told that she won’t lose her family home.
Milly Hawkins, 16, thought she and her sister were going to be forced to move out of their home in Cannock, Staffordshire – before a housing association made a U-turn.
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Mum Kyra King, 48, died from the virus in February, leaving behind her devastated daughters Courtney Johnson, 23, and Milly.
Following the popular cafe worker’s death, Courtney became Milly’s guardian – but she was told she couldn’t take over the tenancy as it ended with Ms King’s death.
The family had lived in the rented four-bedroom home for 15 years.
As a result, Milly was forced to sleep on the settee at her elder sister’s three-bedroomed home, which she shares with her three-year-old daughter, her partner and his two kids.
But Sanctuary Housing has U-turned on their decision – and allowed the family to keep the home following the mum’s death.
Breaking the news to 16-year-old Milly, Courtney recorded the elated teen when she found out she would be able to keep on living in her home.
In disbelief, Milly holds her hands over her face as she nearly begins to cry with happiness.
Courtney said today: “We got the house! I just can’t believe it. We’re over the moon, Milly can’t stop crying.
“Sanctuary Housing rang me, I couldn’t hear everything but I heard them explain that they were giving me the tenancy.
“They said that it was the law that they couldn’t give us it and that they’d just been doing their jobs but they’d looked again and the decision had come back quicker than they expected.
“It just means so much to us.”
They were previously told by Sanctuary Housing that because Courtney wasn’t on the lease, and because there was no “succession” due to Milly being under 18, they were unable to rent the house themselves.
The frustrated daughters appealed to have the decision changed.
A petition for Courtney to be allowed to take over the tenancy attracted more than 26,000 signatures.
TEARS OF JOY
Courtney previously told the Birmingham Mail: “It means everything to me and Milly to live in my mum’s house. This is our family home, where our memories are.
“My mum’s passed away and now they’re trying to take the house from us. This house is everything and more, we grew up in this house, and all our friends live on this estate.
“I can’t explain to you how much staying in this house means to us.”
A spokesperson for Sanctuary Housing said today: “We understand how deeply upsetting recent events have been for the family.
“Given the exceptional and highly complex circumstances, we have taken a compassionate view of this matter and used our discretion to offer Miss Johnson the opportunity to take on the tenancy.
“In reaching our decision, we have taken account of stakeholder views and given careful regard to the 16-year-old sibling who wants to remain in the home where she has lived for almost all her life.
“We will now work with Miss Johnson to ensure her family can move into this property as soon as possible.”
Ms King, a mum-of-five, caught Covid over Christmas and was later rushed to hospital after she began having difficulty breathing.
She was placed in a coma, but died on February 2.
Kyra left behind son Jordan, 27, as well as a 10-year-old daughter and 13-year-old son, who are now living with their dad.
