East Ham family with disabled daughter in plea for larger home
Mother Kerry Stubbs, right, and her family with carer Nicola Williamson at their two-bedroom flat in Woodman Street, - Credit: Archant
A family of five with a disabled daughter have been stuck in a two-bedroom flat for three years in what their MP is calling an “urgent” situation.
Dan and Kerry Stubbs are looking to move into a bigger home from their flat in Woodman Street, North Woolwich, but say the council’s bidding system has not offered anything to meet their needs.
Stephen Timms, MP for East Ham, who has been supporting the Stubbs family since 2010, said the family “clearly does need to be re-housed urgently”.
Mr and Mrs Stubbs sleep in their lounge to make space for twin three-year-old girls and Samantha, 23, who is disabled.
Mrs Stubbs, 42, said: “Samantha can’t walk, she can’t talk, she’s wheelchair bound and she uses a feeding tube.
“When she was born I chose to look after her myself instead of putting her into care.
“I feel I’m being discriminated against by the council because I made that decision.”
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Mrs Stubbs said her daughter uses an adjustable hospital bed, a shower chair and a therapeutic hot tub, and relies on a carer who sometimes needs to stay overnight.
Last week, the council’s computer bidding system offered them a sixth floor flat near Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, which the Stubbs say is impractical for their three children.
A council spokesman said it had “worked tirelessly” to find the Stubbs family a suitable home, including carrying out adaptations to their current home, giving them “enhanced” bidding status and the offer of a home in the Athletes’ Village that was wheelchair accessible.
“We have now contacted the family and arranged a meeting to review their housing situation,” he added.
