Home starts with YOU
When unsafe housing put Belinda and her son at risk, we helped them fight for the safe home they deserved.
How we helped Belinda find a safe home
After Belinda fell down the stairs carrying her son Lawrence’s wheelchair in their unsuitable temporary accommodation, she was put in touch with Shelter. Thanks to supporters like you, we were right by her side.
It’s hard to believe Belinda and five-year-old Lawrence were ever placed in the shared house where Belinda fell. Lawrence has severe complex needs and experiences epileptic seizures. He is unable to walk and needs a hoist to sit and bathe.
When they needed to leave the house, Belinda’s only option was to make sure Lawrence was safe and secure in a chair, then carry his wheelchair down the stairs and walk back up the stairs to carry Lawrence down. Belinda said, 'He is tall for his age and can’t hold himself well, so I had to hold him very tightly.'
Things reached a critical point when Belinda fell down the stairs carrying the wheelchair. She crawled back upstairs and couldn’t leave their room for a week while her injured leg recovered. At that point, social services put Belinda in touch with Karen at our London hub.
Stronger together
’Karen called me personally to discuss what was going on. I felt like I had somebody to listen to me for the first time,' Belinda said.
Together they wrote an email to the local council, explaining how the accommodation was unsafe and could even be fatal if Belinda fell or there was a fire. The room was also too small to fit the specialist equipment Lawrence needs. Belinda said,
'Later, Karen sent another email saying she was going to bring in a solicitor. Right after that, I got a call from the housing officer. It took them just a week to relocate us.'
Belinda and Lawrence should never have been in that situation. But your support helped them fight for the safe, suitable home they need. Today, they’re fully settled in a two-bedroom, ground-floor flat, much closer to Lawrence’s school.
'Mentally and physically, we are now very good,' Belinda smiles. 'We feel very, very happy.'