A homeless couple have angered local business owners after turning a disused bus stop into temporary accommodation.
Destiny Mitchell moved into a 3m (9.8ft) by 1m (3.2ft) glass and metal shed in Selly Oak, Birmingham, seven months ago with her boyfriend Ryan, 31, and his 44-year-old mother.
They added makeshift Super Mario Bros.-themed cabinets, chairs, carpeting, trash cans, bedding, and curtains.
But traders said the shelter attracted “anti-social behavior” from large crowds gathering late at night.
Destiny says the council has offered to provide her with temporary accommodation, but she does not want to be separated from her autistic mother.
It comes as Birmingham struggles with a housing crisis with more than 23,000 households waiting for a property. This figure includes almost 5,000 households who are homeless and living in temporary accommodation.
One trader, who chose not to be named, said his livelihood was being affected and told BirminghamLive: “I have complained to the council several times but nothing has been done so far . People are afraid to visit my store in the evening because of the crowds.
Destiny Mitchell, 26, is homeless and has turned a bus stop into a temporary home on Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham
The 26-year-old lives at Bristol Road Bus Stop (pictured) with her boyfriend Ryan, 31, and his 44-year-old mother.
The couple have been living at the shelter in Selly Oak, Birmingham (pictured) for seven months and have added wardrobes, chairs, carpet, bins and bedding.
The shelter is outfitted with makeshift Super Mario Bros.-themed cabinets, chairs, rugs, trash cans, bedding, and curtains.
“Every night, 20 to 25 people gather here. This is disrupting my business. I even called the police a couple of times, but they didn’t seem to care. I pay £6,000 in business rates for the year and £20,000 in rent. This is a big problem for me, but what can I do?
Another trader added: “It’s a very sad situation, of course, but the anti-social behavior affects us and our customers. Something must be done to give them suitable accommodation.
“What is happening right now is not fair to anyone. We need to find a solution that works for everyone.
Support charity Trident Reach said it was working with the couple to find “suitable accommodation”.
A spokesperson for the charity said: “Our teams know the couple and have tried to work with them to find suitable accommodation. Unfortunately, they declined the accommodation as it is currently not in the area they would prefer.
“We will always work with people to encourage them to find suitable accommodation, but unfortunately sometimes people refuse help. We will continue our daily checks on the couple and continue to offer housing support and options for them.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said the bus stop (pictured) was not in use and should be removed
The bus shelter is located at Selly Oak in Birmingham on Bristol Road
Trident said staff were working “closely” with the police but were “not aware of any concerns regarding anti-social behaviour”, adding: “We would always encourage anyone concerned that a person sleeping on the street to share their concerns with us via Streetlink.
Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) said the bus stop was not being used and should be removed.
A TfWM spokesperson said: “All bus services have been consolidated to a nearby shelter, so this is no longer needed and has therefore been earmarked for removal. The shelter removal process is underway, including disconnecting power, obtaining roadwork permits and planning work with contractors.
“In the meantime, we are liaising with our partners, including the police, the council and local housing providers, who are working to secure suitable long-term accommodation for those affected. We thank the local community for their patience while the issue is resolved.
Birmingham City Council has confirmed that the Bristol Road bus shelter “will soon be removed”, but no date has been set.
A council spokesperson said: “Homeless services contacted the couple and offered them accommodation.
“The offers have not yet been accepted, but the offer of support and accommodation will remain there if they change their mind.”
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