When Eileen first reached out to The McCarthy-Dixon Foundation (TMDF), she had been living with an unthinkable problem for four years: rodents invading her home. What began with the discovery of droppings in the back of a cupboard and even dead rodents behind her freezer, turned into a four-year ordeal that left her feeling frightened, anxious, and unable to relax in her own house. She had become so afraid to use the bathroom that she was using a bucket instead, and at one point was hospitalised for dehydration after avoiding her kitchen out of fear.
In Eileen’s own words:
Encouraged by a neighbour and fellow TMDF client, Eileen decided to contact us for help. Teresa from TMDF visited Eileen to understand what was going on and quickly arranged for local company Hawk Pest Control to assess the situation.
After this initial assessment, Hawk Drainage & Groundworks Ltd visited the property and carried out a detailed investigation, including a full CCTV inspection, which revealed that the rodents were entering the property through an uncapped pipe left open during an old property extension. Flooding in the area had worsened the issue, creating ideal conditions for pests to spread.
With the cause finally identified, TMDF stepped in to liaise with Eileen’s insurance company, who initially declined to cover the necessary works.
While TMDF continued to liaise with Eileen’s insurance company, Hawk Drainage completed the repairs at a heavily discounted rate, recognising that Eileen simply needed help after enduring years of distress.
After persistent follow-up with Eileen’s insurance company and several rounds of negotiation by phone and email, the insurer eventually agreed to pay out in full.
Speaking about the experience, Eileen notes:
Today, Eileen’s home is rodent-free, and she says she finally feels able to relax again.
Eileen’s story is a powerful reminder of how far advocacy, teamwork, and compassion can go, and how TMDF continues to stand beside community members facing challenges no one should have to face alone.
Do you or someone you know need help and support to get through a difficult time? We know that asking for help is not easy, just complete our contact form and we’ll be in touch with more on how we can help.
