I can’t begin to express how much gratitude I feel for every single person who has signed, shared, and supported this petition. We have now passed 48,000 signatures and the kindness and compassion from so many people gives us the strength to keep going. To everyone standing with us, sending messages of support, and praying for my mum, you are our Earth Angels and we love you all enormously.
Because of you, the media have taken notice. You made them listen. Reporters are now covering my mum’s story, shining a light on what she is going through, and it is all because of the incredible people who signed this petition. You have shown that my mum is not just a name on a form, not just a number in a system, but a human being who deserves to be treated with dignity. The difference you have made is something I will never forget. Each and every one of you will always hold a place in our hearts.
Today has been another difficult and emotional day with two calls from Notting Hill Genesis. This morning they told me that they would grant my mum a discretionary tenancy but only if she downsized. Once again I had to explain why that simply isn’t possible. She is 79 years old, frail, and struggling with memory problems. Moving her from the home she has lived in for 30 years would cause her immense distress. This isn’t just about bricks and mortar. It is about her sense of safety, her memories, and everything that makes her feel secure.
If they move her there is no guarantee she would even be placed close by. It could literally be anywhere in London, away from her family and the local community who love her. She could end up in an unfamiliar area, surrounded by strangers, in a place that means nothing to her. She would not know the shops, the streets, or the people around her. She could get lost, not recognizing her surroundings and not knowing how to get home. That thought alone is heartbreaking. She would be scared and confused, not understanding where she is or why she is no longer where she feels safe.
Her home is the house she has lived in for 30 years, not some random flat that they throw her into. If she did somehow find her way back, she would try to go home, walking to her old front door, putting her key in the lock, and realizing she can’t get in. The idea of her standing there, confused and frightened, unable to understand why she can’t go inside, is unbearable.
A few hours after that first call they phoned again with a new response. They are now saying they will look into the possibility of allowing her to stay in her home but only if I provide medical evidence to prove how distressing a move would be for her. This is not a promise that she can stay, just another hurdle to jump through so they can look into it again.
I have already contacted her GP who advised me to email a request for the necessary documentation, which I have now done. I will do whatever it takes to make sure she can stay in her home but I have to be honest, this has been one of the most draining and heartbreaking battles I have ever had to fight. As a working family seeking a private diagnosis is not an option for us. Like so many others we are simply working to survive.
This petition is making a difference. It is keeping the pressure on and showing that people care. You have helped push this into the spotlight. The media are watching, people are listening, and this is all because of the amazing human beings who see my mum as a person and not a number ticking boxes.
Please continue to share and spread the word, not just for my mum but for all the vulnerable people who should never have to go through something like this.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. Each and every one of you will always hold a place within our hearts.
I will update as soon as I know anything further.
Sign and share: https://chng.it/g7vbqnLzvs
All my love and best wishes to all of you,
Lisa.