Disabled man left homeless (From Your Local Guardian)

Disabled man left homeless

10:50am Friday 29th August 2008 in

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A 61-year-old disabled man has been left homeless on the streets of Isleworth after bailiffs chucked him out of his specially equipped flat when the landlord fell behind on mortgage payments.

Trevor Dunne suffers from osteoarthritis of the spine and uses an electric scooter – but he has been forced to sleep rough since he was evicted from his home in Hippisley Court, Worton Road, on June 10.

The former gas engineer said he was able to afford new accommodation but was “gutted” that Hounslow Council had not been able to help him find a property with the special facilities he needed.

In May 2007, after he fell and broke his hip, he was referred to the council by West Middlesex Hospital for disabled accommodation but his housing application was withdrawn by the local authority because “he did not contact us directly,” a spokesman said.

But Mr Dunne said he had been heavily drugged at the hospital after the fall, so five friends and family went with him to the Civic Centre.

He said: “I was on morphine so I wasn’t here, I was on planet nine. The five people got me a bed and breakfast hostel, which was £49 a night, but it had steps in it, so I couldn’t move or do anything.”

After that he got the flat in Worton Road where he lived until the eviction.

He said: “I am not asking for furniture and all that, I just want somewhere to stay.

“If someone in the street looks at me like this and they are a bit of a hooligan they are going to think that it’s easy pickings.”

Gordon Smith, Mr Dunne’s friend for 30 years, said he was with Mr Dunne when the council turned him away.

He said: “Basically they said they could not do anything.

“I would like to help him out but with my facilities he would not get in. I go to see him just to check he is alright.”

Mr Dunne pays £156 a month to store his furniture at Currie’s while he sleeps in Isleworth, where an air vent keeps him warm at night.

But with winter approaching and only a blanket to keep him warm, Mr Dunne said he was worried about sleeping on the streets.

He said: “The flat I was in was a disabled flat so it had all the bits. Friends of mine and my carer used to help me out but obviously this man did not pay his money so we got evicted.

“Now the council can’t find anything, they don’t want to know.”

A spokesman for Hounslow Council said Mr Dunne needed to visit the Civic Centre or arrange a meeting at an agreed place to get information about the housing options available to him.

“A resettlement officer can then assist in assessing his special needs by arranging referrals to appropriate agencies.

“While Hounslow Council has no recent record of Mr Dunne approaching the council for housing assistance we can offer him advice once he makes contact.

“Council records show that Mr Dunne has not applied to the council as a homeless person or on the housing register.

“In May 2007 he was referred to the council from the West Middlesex Hospital. However, his application was withdrawn, as he did not contact us directly.

“We do sympathise with Mr Dunne in his current situation and can offer services to help find accommodation for him.”