Well, way back in January, when hubby and I were still expecting our little bundle of joy, we were faced with homelessness as we just couldn't stay in the inaccessible property we were living in. We got kicked out anyway because it was overcrowded...
During that time a collection of 5 2-bed, fully accessible bungalows became available in the village that I had lived in my whole life, and where my entire family live... These properties would have been perfect for us - completely accessible for hubby (who is a wheelchair user), housing association owned so a decent rate of rent, in my home village, so ideal for family support (which, as a teenage pregnant carer, I badly needed!), and a home - so thus solving our homelessness situation!!
I didn't think anyone could be more needing of those properties than us, so it shocked us when after applying well in advance for them we were told that we were not high enough priority and wouldn't be allowed to rent one of the bungalows.
Well the sucessful applicants have moved in now, and it turns out that the new tennants didn't need the properties for the accessibility at all!
One of the lucky couples went on holiday with my nan last week and although they are elderly (70+) they aren't actually physically disabled - According to my grandmother they were up on the dance floor every night and there's nothing wrong with either of them! Another couple owned a house on the estate, which the SOLD to move into the almsehouse bungalow! And the third person that I've heard of is a single mum, but again NOT DISABLED!!
This makes me so angry and upset - we needed (and still do need!) those bungalows so much - accessible bungalows are so hard to come across (heck, even the council had such a hard time finding us one to rent on their books that we had to spend 2 months in B&B accomodation while I was heavily pregnant!) Seriously, they come up once in a blue moon in this area, and to hear that these fully kitted out, purpose built accessible bungalows have gone to people who don't need them for the accessibility is heart breaking (might sound melodramatic but it's so wrong!)
I don't understand how these people have higher priority than us, who need the accessibility, have a dependent child, have strong ties to the village, and ARE TECHNICALLY HOMELESS!!!
How can they do this???? It's just so unfair - and more than unfair, it's down right WRONG
Sorry for the rant it's just... I need to have a secure home for my family - and I feel like these other people have stolen that chance from us, and the charity have for some reason discriminated against us and denied us this fantastic opportunity for to offer it to other people who DON'T NEED IT!! and I don't know why
Last edited by TashaAndBump : 12-05-2008 at 20:59 PM.
we've been having similar problems and tbh I could very easily cry - and we don't even have a LO! Can't imagine how much harder it must be for you huni
Last edited by Mynxie : 10-05-2008 at 22:58 PM.
Reason: stupid hands aren't working so can't type properly, grrrr
Status: Online
The following user says 'Thanks' to Mynxie for this post:
There has to be something you can do about this? Im no good at shit like this but hear people saying they go to local goverments??? an so on or alike? As much as that young Mum needed a home you are also Mum & Dad who actually need the reason those bungalows were probably built or converted for so its bloody discusting!
I hope something good comes of this situation soon!
Status: Offline
The following user says 'Thanks' to Wobbles for this post:
There has to be something you can do about this? Im no good at shit like this but hear people saying they go to local goverments??? an so on or alike? As much as that young Mum needed a home you are also Mum & Dad who actually need the reason those bungalows were probably built or converted for so its bloody discusting!
I hope something good comes of this situation soon!
We appealed when we were initially declined, but were told we simply weren't high enough priority - in fact their wording at the time was that "every applicant who has been given a bungalow has a higher priority need for an accessible property" - Now it turns out that at least three of the people who have been given one don't need them for the accessibility at all!
We can't appeal in the way of going to the local councils or anything - it's not under their duristriction as it's the Almsehouse charity's decision. However we are thinking of taking it to charity comission because they have failed us in that the bungalows were purpose built for accessibility - and now the people who really need that have been denied it! It's such a waste to have these fully accessible properties being lived in but not by disabled people!
I don't know how the people on that board can turn around and say to us "You are not high enough priority". We actually knew one of the people on the board, which makes me even sadder - because we may just have missed out because they didn't want to be seen as positively discriminating against us? - But that doesn't mean they should negatively discriminate!! We met and spoke to the wife of the man who made the final decision - she saw us and knew fully the situation we were in and told us to our face that we would definately not get a place and that others needed them more than us.
I don't know how this can be happening - It's crazy - makes no sence!!
but hear people saying they go to local goverments??? an so on or alike? As much as that young Mum needed a home you are also Mum & Dad who actually need the reason those bungalows were probably built or converted for so its bloody discusting!
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