A struggling family could be separated in the new year if they are unable to keep their home in the face of rental arrears, it was feared yesterday.The mother said she risked eviction from a Bermuda Housing Corporation property. It was thought her children would be placed in foster care if the family was left without a home.Sheelagh Cooper, a children’s advocate, claimed yesterday that the situation demonstrated a lack of co-ordination among government services.Ms Cooper said: “There is a fatal flaw in our safety net in that the government agencies that are set up to help vulnerable children and their families, the Bermuda Housing Corporation, child and family services and financial assistance, are now located in three different ministries.“These should not only be located in the same ministry, they should be down the hall from each other.Ms Cooper said: “The welfare of struggling families depends on these agencies co-ordinating their services. “When these agencies stay in their lanes, it’s up to families to bridge the gaps by going from one to the other in an attempt to patch together a plan. “This situation is a good example of how that doesn’t work.”The mother, who lives in Pembroke, said that a single income source from her children’s father depended on how many hours of work he was able to secure.She explained that the Department of Financial Assistance had funded half of the $1,300 a month rent and the householders were expected to pay the rest.However, arrears had amassed to at least $11,000.The 38-year-old said: “I’m standing to be evicted soon.”She added: “They just said some time in January, they didn’t give an exact date.“I believe that if the arrears were paid I would stand a better chance of keeping my house.”The mother said: “Right now we’re just trying to accumulate as much as we can to go up there with a lump sum, but the process is taking longer than expected.“They had said for us to pay $200 a month towards it, but we decided that we are trying to come up with a little bit more to get it down a little bit faster.“I would have to pay on the arrears, then I would have to come up with the current [rent] because I’m not getting any help from financial assistance right now.”She added: “It’s stressful, I’m not able to do much for my children as far as Christmas is concerned. I’ve had some people help me, give me a few things.“2020, I want a better life for myself, which means I will definitely go out and look for employment because I can’t afford to live like this any more.”The mother said that her children lived with her. However, it was feared that they could be placed in foster care if she lost her home and was unable to secure housing and a steady income.Ms Cooper said: “I am fully aware that the parents have made mistakes along the way, but the eviction in this case serves only to punish the children. “There are few things more traumatic to a child than homelessness or the prospect of being taken away and separated from your parents.“When that happens the scars are deep and the likelihood of the cycle of poverty perpetuating into the next generation increases exponentially.”Ms Cooper, who is chairwoman of Habitat for Humanity of Bermuda, added that research in other countries supported the concept of “housing first”.She explained: “This essentially, is the belief that housing is a fundamental human right and that very little can be accomplished in terms of developmental growth, counselling or therapeutic intervention unless a family has a roof over their heads and sufficient food to eat. Ms Cooper said: “This may sound expensive, but the research is clear, that the failure to provide that basic life support has a much more expensive impact on the mental health system, the healthcare system, the educational system and ultimately the correctional system. “The evidence is very clear that a dollar spent at the front end will save hundreds further down the line — and that is just the financial argument. The humanitarian and moral argument is an even stronger one. “How can we, in this largely wealthy community, stand by and watch families put out on the street because they can’t afford to pay the rent?”A friend of the family, who has helped the mother in the past, said: “Not all things are perfect, but she takes care of her children.”She added: “This is not neglect, it’s poverty and they should not be punished by removing their children.“It’s not in the best interest to remove these children from their mother under any circumstances.“For that reason, we are rallying throughout the community to help her with the back rents and myself and Sheelagh will work out a plan for next year.”A spokeswoman for the Department of Child and Family Services said: “The department will not comment on individual cases, however, it should be noted that cases are dealt with on their own merits, and based on the circumstances presented.” The Ministry of Public Works, which oversees the BHC, was contacted for comment on Friday.The Ministry of Health, for the Department of Financial Assistance, was contacted by e-mail yesterday and responded: “We cannot comment on individual cases.”• Anyone who wishes to help the mother pay off her rental arrears can deposit funds into the Habitat for Humanity of Bermuda HSBC bank account 006053177001