A mom left disabled by a number of sclerosis (MS) and in want of tailored housing was “gobsmacked” to be informed by Enfield Council she might transfer to a house in Leeds.
The mum, who wished to be often known as Billie, stated she felt “trapped” residing in her present residence, the place she has had a number of accidents, however the council informed her she must wait six years for an appropriate place in Enfield.
Billie was recognized with MS in 2017, and her situation has since worsened to the purpose the place she wants a wheelchair and suffers from incontinence. She stated she was positioned in privately-rented lodging by the council as a result of she has loads of accidents.
Her present residence, the place she has lived for the previous three years, wants adapting to fulfill her wants – together with a stairlift, hospital mattress, moist room and reclining chair. However though the owner has added stair rails and made different alterations, he can’t make the main modifications to the home that she wants.
“It’s actually insufferable residing like this,” Billie stated. “I really feel discriminated towards, and I’m not being heard. I’ve obtained help from everybody, however no one is listening to me and the council don’t care.”
Billie stated that in the course of the previous yr and a half her MS had obtained “actually unhealthy” and left her with “extreme despair”. Due to her mobility issues, Billie’s husband has to hold her up and down the steps. Her mobility has additionally led to her having accidents, and he or she not too long ago fell and hit her head on a radiator.
“I’ve been in mattress more often than not,” she stated. “I’m fearful of popping out and having accidents.
“My wheelchair doesn’t undergo the doorways in the home. I’m placing a lot effort in making an attempt to get into the backyard. I’ve obtained no area for [the wheelchair] […] I don’t have a stairlift.”
Billie stated she generally goes downstairs solely as soon as per week and spends most of her time in her bed room. She additionally suffers from sleep paralysis and says she is simply getting two hours’ sleep per evening.
One other drawback is the shortage of privateness in the home – a three-bedroom property shared by a household of 5. Her daughter has extreme ADHD [attention deficit hyperactivity disorder], and he or she wants her personal room. Billie additionally stated she doesn’t need her daughter to see her when she tries to take a shower or bathe.
Billie has letters from her GP saying her housing is “severely affecting her psychological well being”, which is in flip having an affect on her bodily well being, and that she wants housing with diversifications to fulfill her stage of incapacity.
She stated she felt like she had “no alternative” however to simply accept the council’s supply of privately-rented lodging. Since then, the council has accepted that she wants someplace to stay completely – however informed her that she would doubtless have to attend for six years for an appropriate property due to the variety of individuals ready for housing.
Billie stated that the council had informed her long-term properties, which she believes had been for social hire, had been out there almost 200 miles away in Leeds.
“I used to be introduced up in Enfield,” she stated. “I do know this space. Why would I be going to a spot the place I don’t know anybody in any respect? Why would I am going to a spot the place I must change hospitals and the individuals who look after me?”
Billie stated that if the council might discover her a house in Leeds, it ought to have the ability to discover her a spot in one other London borough, resembling Barnet. However she claims she was informed the council didn’t work with different London boroughs.
Including that she didn’t really feel she was being listened to by the council, Billie stated that she needed to make calls and urge workers to take motion on her case. “It’s like they’ll’t hear me or see me,” she stated.
A council spokesperson stated that the case “underlines as soon as once more simply how extreme the housing disaster is in London”.
They added: “Enfield Council is dedicated to utilizing all its sources to make the expertise of homelessness uncommon, temporary and non-recurring. We’re decided to allow everybody has entry to a steady, safe and first rate residence.
“The household is presently residing in privately rented lodging which sadly can’t be tailored to fulfill their particular wants. The scarcity of accessible council properties means we’re working with the household and urgently making an attempt to safe different non-public rented lodging that may be tailored to fulfill their wants.
“Throughout London, the variety of households turning into homeless has risen over the previous yr while the variety of properties out there has fallen.
“In Enfield, there was a 62% fall within the variety of properties out there to let. We’re doing all the things we will to safe appropriate lodging, however the scarcity of privately rented lodging impacts the entire of London – not simply Enfield.
“With a purpose to guarantee this resident has appropriate lodging to fulfill her well being wants as quickly as doable, the council is exploring all out there housing.”
