Mother and disabled child inappropriately housed after fleeing domestic violence, council admits

Hackney Town Hall

Hackney Council has admitted that a mother who fled domestic violence, taking her two children with her, was housed in inappropriate temporary accommodation for around a year.

The woman, whose name the Hackney Citizen has agreed not to reveal because of serious concerns for her personal safety, said she was forced to carry her daughter up a flight of stairs every time she needed to wash or use the toilet.

Her daughter uses a wheelchair and has cerebral palsy as well as epilepsy.

“The doctor said I should stop lifting anything heavy because it’s damaging my back,” the woman told the Hackney Citizen, “but how can I when they’ve put me in this situation? I have to wash my daughter.”

She added: “I didn’t think the council would let disabled people live like this. How can you live like that?”

The woman, who also has a son, is now being rehoused in a more suitable, ground floor flat with associated adaptations.

The case, which has been highlighted by activist group Sisters Uncut, is revealing about the chronic shortage of temporary accommodation locally and lengthy housing waiting list.

Sisters Uncut, a direct action feminist group which the council says has caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to the Town Hall during protests in recent days, claims it helped secure new accommodation for the woman by heaping pressure on the council.

However, a council source played this down, saying housing officers had been dealing with the woman directly.

A Hackney Council spokesperson said: “We sincerely apologise for the delay in finding more suitable accommodation in this case.

“We are now urgently making adaptations to a ground-floor property which will better meet the family’s medical needs and will help them move into their new home as soon as possible.”