A mum and her four children, including an autistic son, face being made homeless after her landlord sold their home.
Beckie Searle, from Birmingham, is currently living in private rented accommodation but must leave by November 8.
She cannot afford to continue private renting and has been told it could take months for her to find a council home, BirminghamLive reports.
Birmingham City Council said there is a shortage of properties in the city and it is encouraging residents to look at the private market.
Single mum Beckie, 39, has four children, Tyler aged 20, Jodie, aged 15, eight-year-old Kaine and five-year-old Leyla.
Kaine is autistic and the strain on the family is having a particularly negative affect on him.
Jodie suffers from bronchitis and Leyla has mobility problems.
Beckie has contacted Birmingham City Council for help but has been told she could face months to find a new home.
The mum says private renting is too expensive and now faces splitting her young family up - a decision which she says will break her heart.
The family have already packed up their belongings and are just counting the days until they have to leave their home.
Beckie, who is currently claiming Universal Credit but is looking to go back to work as a support worker, said: "The family will be split up as I will have to put them all up at different houses within our family. I need my autistic son settled.
"He is getting more aggressive than he usually is because of the situation. He doesn't like to leave his bedroom because he doesn't know if that will be the last time he will see it. Two of my other children also have health problems.
"I have gone through the homeless department at the council but have told me that I have to wait six weeks before I get a bidding number to bid for a house.
"They have told me to private rent. I just can't afford the prices. I can't afford £1700 per month for a four bedroomed house. My wages would just not cover it.
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"I feel absolutely wounded by what's happened. It's just going to be a massive upheaval for everyone."
A spokesman for Birmingham City Council said: "We are very sorry to hear that this family is being made homeless. Anyone being asked to leave a rented property should seek legal advice on what this means in terms of the circumstances under which they may need to leave.
"This can sought from a housing law solicitor or through Birmingham City Council’s Housing Solutions service.
"If a household is at risk of homelessness the Housing Solutions service will assess the circumstances and determine in what way they may be assisted.
"Demand for housing in Birmingham is considerably greater than supply, this does regularly result in households who are homeless, being placed in emergency accommodation including B&B’s, until a alternative option can be secured.
"We do encourage households to look at other options.
"To help with renting in the Private Rented Sector we have introduced a new scheme with Help2Rent, an organisation that makes housing simple for tenants and landlords and provides incentives to landlords who offer 12-month fixed tenancies to those on the Council’s homeless and housing registers.
"More information about Help2Rent is on our website."
