Express & Star

Kingswinford couple who had baby boy on Christmas Day without a home since April

A Kingswinford couple whose baby was the first born at Russells Hall Hospital on Christmas Day have been told by Dudley Council there is no room at the inn.

Plus
Published
Last updated
Freddie's mum Chloe Bennett and dad Jamie Smith with grandparents: Julie and Dave Bate. They are all living under one two bedroom roof along with Jamie's brother in a two bedroomed house in Kingswinford

In what is a real life nativity story, little Freddie Jay was born at 1.10am on December 25, the first of three babies born at the hospital that day.

Chloe Bennett and Jamie Smith from Kingswinford, with baby Freddie Jay on Christmas Day at Russells Hall Hospital.

But mum Chloe Bennett and father Jamie Smith have been homeless and sleeping on friends' sofas since April.

Chloe was already pregnant at the time and the couple found they couldn't afford private accommodation due to rocketing rent prices, so they applied to Dudley Council in May, thinking they would be a priority – but say they have heard nothing since.

The couple, who both work, are now living at Jamie's mother Julie's two-bedroomed house on the Crestwood estate, where she lives with her husband and another son.

Baby Freddie Smith with mom Chloe Bennett, dad Jamie Smith and grandparents Julie and Dave Bate. They are all living under one two bedroom roof along with Jamie's brother in Kingswinford and looking for housing from Dudley Council