Homeless because of the utility bills
The electricity bill left Carmen, 51, homeless
Of:
Katarina Norrgrann,
Robert Aschberg,
Lindah C Mohlin
Published: Today 06.42
Updated: Less than 20 min ago
NEWS
Carmen, 51, became homeless because she could not afford the electricity bill.
When Aftonbladet 200 seconds meets her, she is sleeping on a mattress in the hall at a friend's house.
- I am still an optimist. I think it will work out somehow, but I don't know how, says Carmen.
Carpenter Carmen and loyal friend Luna live in the hall at a friend's house. Photo: MAGNUS WENNMAN
The electricity would be paid for separately, but Carmen couldn't imagine it would be a problem. The house also had an air source heat pump that would keep costs down.
But in November came an electricity bill of SEK 4,000.
Then she understood that it would not work.
- It was just a matter of counting.
The invoice for December was SEK 8,800.
- I study and live at CSN. With electricity bills like that, it's simply not sustainable. It doesn't work out financially. I have to move.
Carmen in the kitchen of the house where she lived before. Photo: PRIVATE
Mattress on the floor
Since then, she has moved around between her friends. When 200 seconds hits her, she is sleeping on a mattress in the hall of a classmate.
The snow is half a meter deep around the red cabin outside Kramfors. The stairs creak homely as Carmen walks up to the hall upstairs.
Here she sleeps on a mattress on the floor.
She has some clothes in some bags on the floor. The rest is in the car.
- Now I move a lot, so now you have to be satisfied with only what is necessary.
Carmen wishes the politicians knew how ordinary people feel. Photo: MAGNUS WENNMAN
Carmen is a carpenter and studies building maintenance.
She will soon do an internship in a place further north for four weeks. She has arranged accommodation there during that time.
Then she doesn't know where she's going to live.
- Everything is only temporary. There are no long-term solutions, there are short-term solutions. Then you can drive.
"Politicians do not take into account"
- The economic crisis ends up on us who are not so well off financially, we who were already on the edge. I know I'm not alone.
- We have an economic imbalance in society, so it has always been. Vattenfall's CEO earned over a million a month before too, but it is now becoming clear and visible.
Carmen would like the politicians to understand how ordinary people feel.
- The politicians live in their own world, where everything is certainly very luxurious and comfortable. They do not take into account people who are worse off, us in northern Sweden for example. It is existential things that have become more expensive, electricity, fuel and food. They are things you cannot do without. And when you live in the sparsely populated north, all this costs extra. It is colder, distances are longer and food is often more expensive because there is less competition or you have to go far to shop.
Carmen is grateful for her friends' help. Photo: MAGNUS WENNMAN
"I'm not a victim"
- The discussion about support between northern and southern Sweden is ridiculous. It is quite clear that northern Sweden should have at least as much. It is more expensive to live here and most electricity comes from here.
Carmen is furious with the system and the divisions in society. But she doesn't feel sorry for herself.
- I am not a victim. I'll be fine. I have a place to sleep and I am very happy about that.
- In a crisis situation like this, you discover that there is an incredible amount of love and solidarity among people. You help each other, you are not alone with the problem. It's good to think about it. We are not alone, there are many of us who are affected now.
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