Tragedy of beloved foster dad facing eviction over bedroom tax

The heartbroken family of an ‘amazing’ foster dad who took his own life a week before he was due to be evicted after going into arrears over the 'bedroom tax' believe his death could have been avoided.

Lee McHale, who always dreamt of having children of his own, became a foster dad around 14 years ago. The 52-year-old cared for several children over the years at his home in Denton but had to stop fostering last year due to a decline in his health.

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Lee, originally from Gorton, continued to live alone in the house he'd used to look after the children. But because he had a number of spare rooms he became subject to the 'bedroom tax'.

When his housing benefit didn't cover his rent, he 'rapidly went into arrears and was liable to be evicted', an inquest at Stockport Coroners Court heard. On November 25 last year, Lee was rushed to Tameside Hospital after taking an overdose. He sadly died two days later.

Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Lee’s grieving brother, Gary McHale, 50, and sister-in-law Jemma, 38, said Lee felt unable to ask for financial help. Jemma visited Lee in A&E following his overdose and he told her ‘pride’ had stopped him from reaching out.

“He said it was because he was a proud man and he didn’t want to ask anyone for help even though we would have helped him," she said.

“He didn’t disclose any of it to us. You feel guilty because obviously it was unexpected and we didn’t know it was financial.

“The money he was getting for housing benefits didn’t even cover his rent. He was always going to be in arrears and he had never been in arrears before and it wasn’t a lot. He was going to be evicted a week after he passed."

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