Sophie Shuttleworth, a 32-year-old woman from Newport, Wales, has been stuck in the hospital for 16 months due to a lack of accessible social homes, which has left her feeling like she is in “limbo.” Sophie was left paralyzed after contracting meningitis in July 2022, and although social properties have become available, they have been reserved for people over 55.
The situation is not unique to Sophie. Holly Greader, a 25-year-old from Cardiff who lives with chronic pain caused by hypermobility syndrome, also found that she was not eligible for many social housing properties due to her age. She believes that older people are being prioritized over young disabled people, leaving them sofa-surfing or in unsuitable and unsafe accommodation. Homeownership for young disabled people can also feel like an impossible dream due to the difficulty in saving enough for a deposit.
There is a severe shortage of good quality, affordable homes in the UK, with Cardiff council saying that bungalows are generally allocated to people aged 60 and over, while fully adapted bungalows can be allocated to people of any age. However, the availability of such accommodation is limited, and they rarely become available to let. Local authorities in Wales are legally required to hold an accessible housing register and undertake regular reviews of it.
Newport City Council expressed sympathy for Sophie and claims to be doing everything it can to find her a property that she can adapt to meet her needs. Meanwhile, Holly’s family chipped in to buy her a house when it became clear that social housing in a suitable location that met her needs was unlikely ever to become available. The Spinal Injuries Association has received an increasing number of calls from disabled people of all ages who are angry and concerned about their unsuitable and unsafe accommodation
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