“I wake up every day full of anxiety and full of dread about just not knowing what our future will hold.”
For UNISON steward Lucy McDonald this is the terrifying reality of the ever-deepening cost-of-living crisis gripping the country.
In less than three months, Lucy and her young son could find themselves homeless as their landlord is selling their home and sky-high rental costs mean they can no longer afford to keep a roof over their heads.
Lucy works full-time as a special needs teaching assistant and recently qualified as a UNISON Cymru/Wales steward.
The 32-year-old has lived with her son in their home in Ystrad Mynach in South Wales for the past six years but now spends every day looking for rental properties locally and further afield.
She said: “I have never been so scared in my life. I have contacted my council, applied for social housing, and even had to do a homeless assessment because that is what I face. I cannot find the words to describe the feeling of having to do that other than petrifying.
“I wake up every day full of anxiety and full of dread about just not knowing what our future will hold.
“My son attends the local primary school where he is settled, doing well, made good friends and attends the local youth club.
“Since receiving the news I have looked every day for local rental properties local and further afield and found that the prices of monthly rent have risen unbelievably! My wage would just not cover the monthly rent and bills!
“I have till the end of July to leave my home after that if I have not found something that allows me to pay the monthly rent and all my bills my son and I will be homeless.
“Something needs to be done about the cost of living and soon. How can someone like myself who works full-time face the possibility of becoming homeless?”
Lucy decided to become a UNISON steward during the COVID-19 pandemic as she and many of her colleagues worked throughout the many lockdowns.
She added: “I decided to do the course to become a steward as we all worked through the lockdowns and it was scary.
“We all had questions and I think it’s important that the staff have a union representative.”
UNISON Cymru/Wales will be taking part in a major march against the cost-of-living crisis on Saturday June 18.
The union is providing transport for those looking to take part in the event which is expected to see 250,000 protesters take to the streets of London.
Click here to book your place on one of three UNISON Cymru/Wales buses taking our members to the march in London.
Lianne Dallimore, UNISON Caerphilly branch secretary, said: “It is heart-breaking to hear the stark reality of the awful cost-of-living crisis we are all living under.
“Events like the march in London are crucial to highlighting the appalling situation so many hard-working families are finding themselves in through no fault of their own.
“Public sector workers are the backbone of our economy and, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, they need their pay to recognise the incredible sacrifices they make on a daily basis.”