Madam,

Re your story last week about the three-week wait for benefit applications, thank you Cambrian News for raising our plight in your paper.

Yes, I have been told on so many occasions that my predicament is of my doing – maybe. But I am in a traumatic position.

I do not receive adequate money to live on, I am terrified of living on the streets, and there are constant threats from people who should be helping.

And if it weren’t for the help my mother, who works all hours and gives me handouts, and especially my grandmother, who has helped me out nearly every week for years, things would be a lot worse. I want to be independent. I have made wrong choices – but am stuck now with debts, threats and at times I do feel suicidal.

We can’t all be model citizens and I would love to just have enough money to see one week out without being terrified of tomorrow.

That is our lot – be it of our making – don’t think all poor people are spongers, we would love a better life.

I daren’t sign this letter in case of a backlash, and I’m sure it won’t see the light of day. But thank you for airing our plight.

Yours etc,

Name and address supplied.

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