A desperate family who were living in a caravan outside the offices of their local council after being evicted from their home have now been moved on.
Paul Lee, his three teenage children and their chihuahua decided to make a stand after East Devon District Council allegedly refused to help him.
The 41-year-old labourer got a friend to help tow the mobile home into the carpark of Blackdown House in Honiton on Sunday and the family moved in the next day.
Paul said he had been renting a house in Musbury near Axminster when the landlord announced he wanted to sell up, reports DevonLive.
"He went to court and was successful in getting an eviction notice, and we were given our first eviction notice last year.
"Due to Covid-19 they government prevented us being evicted, but then, as of Monday, July 19, we finally had to leave, and that’s when we moved to East Devon’s car park."
16-year-old Alfie, Archie, 15, and Thomas, 13, were all living with their dad in the caravan, while youngest kids Tilly, 12, and Oscar, 11, largely stayed at their grandad's home in Lyme Regis.
Paul works 16 hours a week and single-handedly looks after all five of his children after separating from his ex-wife.
The caravan they were living in consisted of one toilet, one shower, a sink, and one bed.
It did not have running water or electricity and the family had to use torches for lighting.
“Since Monday, life has been hideous,” Paul admitted prior to being moved on Thursday morning.
“The heat has been amplified, it’s like living in a greenhouse despite all the windows being open.”
Tilly said: “It’s very hot, it’s hard to live in here with my brothers.
“You have to walk to find water and electricity, and I have to use our car to charge up my phone."
She said when her headteacher found out about the living situation they became worried and asked about food vouchers.
Paul said while they were living outside the council offices they were not allowed to use the facility's toilets or electricity and were warned by staff they were at risk of being "forcibly" removed.
“I just want a home for my kids, it’s not rocket science, we’ve been told homes are available for us, we just want a roof over our head," he added.
The dad had made a sign on the side of his caravan which stated: “East Devon Council will not help rehouse a man with five kids. My name is Paul John Lee (Baz). [His number] So, this is where we are going to be living.”
"I intend to stay put, despite East Devon’s threats of moving us on, until we get help,” Paul said, prior to being removed.
In a statement, the council said: "The applicant has told us he will become homeless in the near future and has made an application for assistance to the council.
"While we cannot comment on the detail of individual cases I can confirm that the applicant does not currently qualify for assistance under the homelessness legislation laid down by the UK Government.
"Any council properties that are currently empty and/or are having work carried out on them during the voids process that occurs between tenancies, will either be under offer to applicants or will be advertised via the Devon Home Choice website."
It is unclear where Paul and his children are now living.
