URGENT UPDATE – Still Homeless, Still Fighting for Dignity and Justice
Dear supporters,
It’s now been four and half month since our family was evicted from MOD accommodation, despite my husband Stuart being a severely disabled RAF veteran with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) - a consequence of feet injury in service – a condition so painful it’s been described as “the suicide disease.”
We have been living in two rooms inTravelodge in Lincoln with our two teenage children and our dog since the end of March. No cooking facilities. No privacy. No stability. No space for Stuart’s pain management techniques.
Despite this, West Lindsey District Council has made us a “final” housing offer of a completely unsuitable two-storey house with no level access, no through-floor lift, bedrooms upstairs but no toilet on that level. No space for bedroom downstairs as there is only small kitchen and small transit lounge. None of the entrances to the house were accessible so Stuart could not enter to assess inside layout and wheelchair maneuverability. Even their own OT assessment failed to meet professional standards. We have formally requested a Section 202 review of this decision – because this isn't just a poor decision, it's a dangerous one. I should not tell professional how to do their job.
The Council claims “there are no other properties.” this doesn’t relieve them of their legal duty under the Equality Act 2010, Housing Act 1996, and Armed Forces Covenant to provide safe, suitable housing for a severely disabled veteran and his family.
We applied for sociall housing with West Lindsey District Council in 2021 before Stuart's medical discharged and SSAFA was involved advocating for Stuart so Council was aware of our situation but they did not prevent our homelessness. We tried to find private rent accommodation but we could not find anyone who would accept us as Stuart only recives standard civilian benefits and my wage is not enough.
This situation is breaking us:
Stuart is entirely wheelchair-dependent and deteriorating both physically and mentally.
I have been forced to become his full-time carer while still working part-time to support our children.
Our children are trying to study and grow up in a hotel room, with no access to their personal space, hobbies, or invite friends.
The psychological and emotional toll on all of us is unimaginable.
We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for the basic dignity, safety, and respect that any family – especially a disabled veteran’s family – deserves.
We’ve contacted MPs, ministers, veteran charities, the MOD, We’ve been passed around, ignored, and failed at every level.
The MoD's leased housees in Scampton continue stay empty for years. And Council says we in housing crisis! And houses which MoD handed back to Annington will be used to accommodate other people.
MoD betray their own people, its institutional betrayal.
But we are not giving up.
Please continue to share our petition. Email your MP. Talk about this. Ask the MOD and your local council how many disabled veterans are being left in Travelodges. Ask why Stuart's 12 years of service mean nothing when it comes to safe housing.
We are grateful for every single one of you who has stood by us. Your support keeps us going.
With hope and gratitude,
Anna, Stuart, and family
#VeteransDeserveBetter #AccessibleHousingNow #CRPSAwareness