I am a mother, 21 years old, living in a single bed and breakfast with my two daughters

A YOUNG mother of two is caught living in a single room at a hostel.

Rose, 21, and her daughters have no choice but to see day after day huddled together in a south London flat.

Currently only able to work part-time while learning to be an air traffic controller, private renting is not an option for the single mother.

But times are getting tough as not having their own toilet and enough space to play is affecting her five and two year old.

She told Sky News: “My first born is still in nappies because in the middle of the night he can’t just get up and go to a communal toilet with all these people he doesn’t know.

“My baby – it took him a while to walk because he didn’t have enough room and couldn’t use the walker.”

Living in fear that she could be homeless at any moment, Rose said she is in constant contact with Croydon Council in the hope that a more permanent property becomes available.

But in a recent call with the local authority, Rose was told that London has “no social housing”.

She argues that she would have to leave the capital if she wanted a more secure base.

But an investigation found dozens of empty houses a short drive from where Rose currently lives in Streatham, Lambeth.

The houses were earmarked for redevelopment seven years ago – with no sign of building work yet to take place.

Lambeth Council said: “Lambeth is committed to bringing empty homes back into use as quickly as possible.

“The majority of our empty properties have been vacant for less than six months.”

In Rose’s case, council bosses said: “We have worked with our resident to find more suitable accommodation to meet their needs and have identified a permanent home which we will be offering them soon.

“Croydon has been affected by an increase in homelessness and a housing shortage across London.

“Unfortunately, this means there aren’t always permanent homes available for families as quickly as we would like.”