A mother from Stoke-on-Trent says she is at breaking point after being left to raise six children alone in a cramped three-bedroom council house. Ewelina Ciuruk, 35, from Meir, cares for her three children and her sister's three children after her husband returned to Poland.
Ms Ciuruk was forced to quit her job at Fuchs Lubricants after eight years due to stress and anxiety. She said her Universal Credit claim is in limbo because the system does not recognise her as a foster parent for her niece and nephews, as Polish law would.
The family of seven shares one bathroom, and the rooms are so small that many belongings remain in boxes. Ms Ciuruk sleeps in the living room with her youngest son. She has applied for a larger home but has not received any response from the council, despite being in the highest priority banding.
A Stoke-on-Trent City Council spokesperson said the placement was approved under Polish jurisdiction, and they cannot grant fostering status. They acknowledged a critical shortage of larger homes and said an officer will contact the family to offer support and advice on maximising their income.
Ms Ciuruk has launched an online appeal for £2,600 to buy a new car after her nine-seater vehicle broke down. So far, £430 has been raised.
