Council House. AIBU

[Nace777]

Hi everyone,

Ok, long story short, i, my DP and 2 kids(a girl 11 and a boy 10), we all became homeless in August 2011.
We were living in my brother in law Bedsit, he wouldn't wait for the Council to proceed overcrowding application, he just all kicked us OUT.
We were placed in a temporary accomodation outside the borough for 5 years.
In 2016, i lost my sight, i became totally blind(genetic condition, gene mutation), i am since then on a load of medication for MH( depression, panic attacks).
In 2017 the Council moved me back into the borough, but still in temporary accommodation.
In 2018, the Council moved me again to another temporary acc.
The problem is that i can't adapt my house to my needs.
Although, i have this feeling of not being able of starting this "new life" as a disabled registered severely blind, the reason being not able to settle properly in my home.
AIBU for wanting the Council to place me on a more permanent home???
I understand and appreciate the shortage and homelessness, but i promise you if i could see my kids face just one more time i will work for free 24/7 and live in a tent in a middle of nowhere.

Flamingo why on earth do you think someone who is blind needs less adaptions as a person who is wheelchair user.

Because they won’t need ramps to access their house, wider doorways, adaptations to the height of kitchen work tops etc. I’m not denying that there are adaptations to be made but not ones as well a ‘radical’ as those for a wheelchair user.
Therefore I’m surprised that the council are unable to find her accommodation that is suitable. It seems they are being extremely useless.

@bookmum08

Flamingo why on earth do you think someone who is blind needs less adaptions as a person who is wheelchair user. I would imagine things like no steps would help, bars to hold on to or use as a guide. Having things like plugs and switches, taps etc in easy to access places. A wet room instead of a bath that's hard to step in and out of. OP I don't have any advice I am afraid but I wish you luck.

They need literally none of that in their own homes. It just needs to be kept clear of obstacles (loose cables or wrinkles rugs to trip over), a garden with easy access to the front door (not overgrown, as the op has an oh, he could maintain for her), maybe a phone entry system if someone’s at the front door so they can check who it is. For people who are visually impaired rather than completely blind, lighting should be considered to help them see, but that’s easily installed. There’s nothing really that can’t be done in any house

Actually I think if I’d suggested a wet room to the vast majority of our visually impaired because I thought they couldn’t get in the bath, the majority would be extremely insulted

Can you move to a different location or do you need to be there for work?

Disabled facilities grants can be used to adapt private rented properties. Have you complained to the council about the time in temp accommodation and the lack of adaptations @Nace777?

@2bazookas

Can you get a job as a typist? Your typing skills are remarkable for a blind person.

Fucking rude & ignorant comment!

OP have you asked a health professional to write a letter to the council to demonstrate how the temporary accommodation is impacting on your health. It is not unreasonable to want suitable and safe accommodation for you and your family. I could imagine that not being able to adapt your property for your physical needs could also impact on your emotional health etc I would speak to your GP and ask them to write a letter on your behalf to the council. If you are currently registered to bid this could also improve your banding to help you choose a property that you feels suits your needs. Good Luck

I assume your kids are now 19/20 so able to either move out meaning you only need a 1 bed or contribute to rent for a private rental?
I doubt the op’s dc have aged ten years in 30 minutes. @BrieAndChilli

Also I assume the council reassessed your eligibility for housing when you lost your sight and you have had some medical points added?

@AldiAisleofCrap

I assume your kids are now 19/20 so able to either move out meaning you only need a 1 bed or contribute to rent for a private rental? I doubt the op’s dc have aged ten years in 30 minutes. *@BrieAndChilli*

Tbf the way it’s written it could be mistaken for the op saying that the children were those ages when they moved out 10 years ago

@FlamingoAndJohn

What adaptations would you need? Unlike someone who is a wheelchair user for example I don’t imagine your needs will be as great or long lasting.

Hmm what about “blind due to a genetic mutation” did you miss when suggesting her disability wont be “great or long lasting.”?

Some real idiots on their thread.

I’m not the idiot here.

Of course she is going to have sight loss for life.
What I mean is that the adaptations to the house are not going to be so great as that required by a person who has mobility issues.
The idea that a blind person can’t go up steps or step into the bath in their own home is laughable.

It might be worth while contacting your occupational therapy service and see if they can complete a housing profile - rather than a letter from any health professional the profile highlights your exact needs and what the house must have to meet these

Yes people who are blind can use steps and climb into a bath but if something makes life easier why not do it. The OPs frustration seems to be that her family has been in 'temporary' accommodation for a considerably long time and she can't make any adjustments that she wants/needs (which may be nothing like those I suggested) because she has no idea how long her family will be in that place.
It'sjust why would the suggestion of a wet room shower be an insult? My parents in law have one - a mix of unable to get in and out of the bath and not wanting a regular shower with edges to trip over. It's brilliant. I know other people who have them simply because it means more room to move around, shower the kids etc.

Jesus
aren't there some ignorant people who are experts on disability - anybody heard of the hierarchy of impairment???? So she may need taps adapted - no stairs clear entry wide corridors etc etc & HER BALANCE maybe affected - She also needs somewhere where she can manage to look after her dc - from what I gathered her dp no longer lives with her. I am sure she has gone through the hoops/paperwork - however op - have you been in contact with
www.rnib.org.uk/supportingyou
if they cannot help or support you in this they may be able to link you with someone who can - wondering round websites which I can do & speaking to people easily & confidently is not always that easy when you have been trapped like this - my thoughts are with you op - some people have no idea how many barriers there are for disabled people & how different disabilities can affect different people & depression on top of that

Op could live in London or somewhere where there is an incredibly long list
I know of a case where someone had a severe stroke & lived on the 4th floor of a block which had no damn lift once the ambulance got the individual back home they were stuck. The housing association took over a year to find somewhere else - the principle is they WONT adapt they will wait until an adapted flat is free (shades of dead man's shoes).