Tiffany and Rupert Ransome say they have been ‘overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers’ after the New Blackmore Vale highlighted their plight of losing their East Stour home in just 13 days on March 18.

Since covering their story in our last edition, the family-of-five have been offered a deposit, a bungalow in Gillingham and even the chance to share the home of a disabled veteran. And they have been offered first refusal on a house in Gillingham.

Tiffany said: “I cannot believe the kindness so many strangers have shown. One lady called Linda, rang me and wanted to help financially – she is a remarkable, generous and wonderful lady and I cannot believe she would help us in this way without even knowing us. She told me she understood how painful our situation is and wanted to help after her daughter found herself in a similar position. I burst into tears after talking to Linda.”

“Just when I thought the world was a terrible, dark place, strangers are showing amazing generosity. Our situation is not about money, my partner has a secure job in Stalbridge where he has worked for 15 years, but it is the lack of privately rented homes and the bidding process operated by letting agents. We are on the Dorset Council housing list too, but again, there is a bidding process and a priority list, and we have not been deemed as an emergency.”

In the last 12 months Dorset Council has let 163 properties in the North Dorset area. In North Dorset, 29 households are in the Emergency band, 156 in Gold, 393 in Silver and 589 in Bronze. Of these 74 households who would like to live in Stalbridge, two households are in the Emergency band, nine in Gold, 18 in Silver and 45 in Bronze.

Dorset Council is advising any households at risk of becoming homeless to contact them via dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/housing/homelessness/at-risk-of-becoming-homeless.aspx#Contact.

The family are seeking a three-bed house, ideally close to Stalbridge. If you can help contact karen.bate@blackmorevale.net.

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