We’ve lived in same home for 20 years with our disabled daughter – but now we’re homeless & our health is failing
A FAMILY has told how they’re being made homeless after living in the same home for 20 years.
Nicola and Mark Whealan fell into arrears with their mortgage while looking after their severely disabled daughter, Jade.
The pair’s mental health had been suffering and they were soon chucked out of their house in Ilanishen, Cardiff.
The family-of-four are currently living in a caravan in Porthcawl and have only a matter of days to find new accommodation.
Nicola says the family has the money to rent, but they have been unable to find somewhere that will meet Jade’s needs.
Cardiff Council had offered them emergency accommodation and a council house – but the family turned both down as they were not suitable for Jade.
Because of this, they have been taken off the emergency housing list and have had their council housing application paused due to not having a permanent address, reports Wales Online .
Nicola said: “It is not about being fussy, it is about making [Jade’s] life easier and our life easier. There are so many people out there in our position. I have got no-one behind me, no professionals, nobody. It is like we have been dropped.”
She added: “There is nothing else I can do. My husband’s health is deteriorating, mine is deteriorating, my daughter because she is unsettled because she is not in her routine. It is a fight every day.
“It is hard losing your family home that you have had for 20 years and they have just made it 20 times harder for us as a family. To be honest we can’t take much more of it… otherwise this family will break up.”
A Cardiff Council spokesperson said: “The Council has been working with them for a number of months providing support and advice to find a suitable accommodation.
“The offer of a suitable council home was turned down in June and emergency temporary accommodation at one of our family homelessness centres was declined in August.
“An independent review upheld the suitability of the temporary accommodation offered. The family has reapplied to the housing waiting list this week and their application and needs will be assessed in due course.”