For the past two years, Birmingham mother Dominique Trapszo and her two young children have been living in appalling conditions within temporary council housing, trapped in what she describes as a “filthy rat hostel.”
The 31-year-old pub worker was evicted from her home when her landlord decided to sell the property. Since then, she and her children, aged eight and three, have been shuttled through temporary accommodations—first an ant-infested hotel on Hagley Road, and now a former student dormitory converted into a homeless center in Perry Barr. Despite being in Band A priority on the council’s housing list, Dominique feels the situation has worsened considerably.
Dominique has documented the severe problems plaguing the accommodation: rats scurrying across kitchen surfaces, at least 50 cockroaches trapped in her room, rodents gnawing through her daughter’s changing bag, and human waste left in stairwells. “It’s worse than the ant infestation at the first place,” she explains. The facility suffers from infrequent cleaning, especially on weekends, and residents frequently leave doors propped open, exacerbating the pest problem.
Her daughter contracted ringworm, a fungal infection linked to poor sanitation, which her doctor attributed to the appalling living conditions. “Rat and mice urine is dangerous, especially for young children,” Dominique warns, highlighting the health risks that have been largely ignored despite her repeated complaints.
Adding to her distress, Dominique has faced racial abuse and witnessed anti-social behavior around the property, including an incident where a teenager stole money from her son. She says authorities have taken little action.
Dominique expresses profound frustration at the council’s failure to act swiftly despite her urgent situation. “I’m stuck in this place. My children can’t sleep because of noise at all hours. My mental health is suffering. I just want a clean, safe home for my kids.”
She calls on the council to urgently improve the living conditions or provide suitable housing options. For now, Dominique and her children remain trapped in a cycle of neglect within the city’s inadequate emergency accommodations, awaiting a fresh start.