Credit;SWNS
A disabled woman told how she was forced to sleep on two chairs pushed together due to being given unfurnished social housing.
Rose Strain, 61, was moved into sheltered accommodation after a mite infestation ruined her previous home.
She found herself on the streets eight weeks ago and has been moved into a flat maintained by Link Housing Association.
It had no bed and no cooker, with Rose having to improvise a place to sleep using a sunbed and two chairs.
It has left her with chronic back pain as well as a leg condition caused by diabetes meds, which makes living in a first-floor flat a struggle.
She is now missing the cosy home she had before.
Link Housing Association refuted criticism and says it is working to find another home which is more suitable and has provided a bed and a cooker.
Rose said: “I have been sleeping on two chairs pushed together.
“I fell ill recently with a chest infection and when the paramedics arrived, they took me into hospital for 10 days because of my housing conditions.
“I think they wanted me to have a sleep.
“They helped me more than social work has so far.
“It has been a really awful and dark chapter for me.
“I have never needed help before in my life until now.
“I turned to social work but they just closed the door on me and didn’t want to know about it. I have had no help at all.
“My last home was beautiful – I had it so nice and had so many lovely things.
“It’s all lost now and I have nothing. There hasn’t even been any help for me to get some clothes on my back.”
She moved into the property in Peel Court, Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire on October 15.
There is a stairlift which Rose says she is afraid to use.
She said: “I was eventually offered two flats – one was on the ground floor and the other was on the first floor.
“Due to my legs, I obviously wanted the one on the ground.
“The housing said that work still needed to be done to it and that it would take a few weeks before they could finish it up.
“It is the winter months now and it has been getting really cold – I couldn’t really wait much longer and needed a roof over my head so I had to choose the flat on the first floor.”
Although there is a stairlift, Rose is hesitant to use it in case it breaks.
Due to her condition, she has been struggling to make her way up and down the staircase.
She said: “The stairlift in my new block absolutely terrifies me, every time I use it I think it’s going to break.
“When I eventually get into my flat, I sit there with nothing in it.
“There is no microwave, fridge, freezer, furniture or anything. It is a complete shell and it is meant to be sheltered housing.”
A spokesperson for Link Housing said: “Ms Strain moved into the property at Peel Court on October 15, she was offered a ground floor and a first-floor property – Mrs Strain chose the first-floor property and the social work department confirmed this would be suitable for her needs.
“A member of our housing team spoke with Ms Strain on November 17 and, following this conversation, is working closely with her to help allocate a new home.
“Our homes do not usually come with white goods or furniture, however, in this instance, Link will arrange for the supply and installation of a new cooker and bed for Ms Strain until a new home can be allocated.”
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