First HOLD home is a dream come true for Emma in Albrighton
Laura Fisher, Shropshire Council’s housing services manager, was successful in winning a bid for the council of £2.4million from the Department of Health for a new housing scheme.
The new housing scheme is a shared ownership model called HOLD (Home Ownership for people with Long-term Disabilities) which enables individuals with disabilities to part buy a home of their own. The aim is to provide clients with the ability to choose where they live and who they live with, as well as ensuring they have a lifelong home providing both them and their families with peace of mind.
Shropshire Council is pleased to announce that Emma, from Albrighton, who requires the use of a wheelchair and has various support needs, received the keys to her new home last month and is delighted with her purchase.
(L-to-r): Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing; Dean Carroll, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for housing; William ‘Lenny’ Worthing – HOLD co-ordinator, Shropshire Council; Charlotte Hayward-Prince – Wrekin Housing Trust; Malcolm Pate, local Shropshire Councillor for Albrighton; Emma – HOLD homeowner.
Emma was previously living with her parents and had been looking for a place of her own for over five years. Unfortunately the available properties either did not meet her needs or were not close enough to her parents, who wanted to continue their support once she had moved out. HOLD gave Emma the ability to choose where she wanted to live and who she would live with. For Emma this meant remaining in the town where she grew up, where she participates in activities and where her support network remains. It was also important that she had the space for a carer to stay overnight.
The bungalow, chosen by Emma, was purchased by Wrekin Housing Trust, who sold a percentage to Emma (who received funding from Shropshire Council in regard to the deposit and fees), with a mortgage arranged by MySafeHome. Shropshire Council then co-ordinated and funded the necessary adaptation works to ensure the bungalow is 100% suitable for Emma enabling her to benefit from full independent living.
Emma said:
“I’m so happy. It’s great to live independently in my own home. I’m also able to look into the possibility of having an assistance dog called Lenny who will be able to live with me.”
Emma now has the freedom and ability to live an independent life and make her own decisions regarding her lifestyle and her parents are also happy knowing she will be safe in her own home, for the rest of her life.
Her parents said:-
“At this stage of our lives, it is important that Emma gains her independence. We’re sure that Emma’s life will continue to blossom. Shropshire Council have been magnificent. HOLD is a dream come true.”
Charlotte Hayward-Prince from The Wrekin Housing Trust said:-
“We’re delighted to see Emma settled in to her new home. We identified a bungalow, close to Emma’s parents, which could be adapted to suit her needs. The sale completed in September ready for the adaptations to take place. The Trust was keen to help people with disabilities to get a foot on the property ladder and to live independently. Working with Shropshire Council, MySafeHome, and the Homes and Communities Agency, the Trust are hoping to purchase future homes under HOLD.”
Lee Chapman, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for health, adult social care and housing, was able to hand over the keys to Emma on the day she moved into her property. He said:-
“I am pleased to be able to support Emma to be able to live independently. Shropshire Council is committed to assisting its residents to remain in their own homes for as long as they are able, and HOLD assists us to do that.”
You can find out more about HOLD here – https://www.shropshirechoices.org.uk/directory/providerdetails/209270 and via the MySafeHome website here – http://www.mysafehome.info/
