A REFUGEE and survivor of domestic violence has been left with no-one to turn to because her council has refused to help her find a new home until she is, effectively, evicted. 

Mambenga Mwakana was told to leave her privately rented home a few weeks ago by the owner, who wants to repossess the property she has lived in for 13 years. 

All Redbridge Council, in north-east London, can offer Ms Mwakana is a room in a B&B, which would cost £70 beyond her housing benefit. 

Ms Mwakana told the Star she could not afford this as she is also paying her way through a business management course which she has nearly completed. 

“I am no rich woman,” she said, amid sobs. “When I came to this country I made my children learn, they finished school, I sent them to university. 

“Me too, I do my best. I was married and my husband was violent all the time. 

“And when he left me to go and marry another woman I tried to do my best to go to learn.

“Now I’m in my last year finishing with that pressure ... If I fail, oh mon dieu, it’s hard.”

The mother-of-three fled civil war in her native Democratic Republic of Congo to come to Britain almost 25 years ago.

Her younger children Jonathan and Naomi have gone to university, but she worries they won’t have anywhere to stay when they come home during the holidays. 

Describing her treatment by the council as eviction looms, Ms Mwakana said: “It’s dreadful, it’s hard, I can’t manage it. 

“I can’t sleep, all the time I am looking at the window so I can see the bailiffs coming.”

The local branches of Unite Community and Radical Housing Eviction Resistance Network are supporting Ms Mwakana and her family.

Campaigner Eleanor Firman said: “If you need help, you will be told it is not available unless you come straight to the housing office after the bailiff has evicted you. 

“During this month the council will decide if they have any further duty to help. There is a high chance they will not.”Redbridge Council was contacted by the Star for comment but failed to reply.