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Michael Firth: How an accessible home brought his family together | #ForAccessibleHomes News
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Michael Firth: How an accessible home brought his family together
For Habinteg tenant Michael Firth, from Bradford, finding an accessible home was the key to keeping his family together. When he was appointed legal guardianship of his three children, Michael was living with his parents - who he was caring for - in a two-bedroom home.
"I became the legal guardian of my three children in 2004. Rachael, James, and Suzie, who is a wheelchair user, were then aged 14, 11, and 10, respectively. They had previously been looked after by their mother.
We needed a three-bedroom home that was suitable for Suzie, such as a bungalow, that could be easily adapted for wheelchair use. The first home we were offered by the council I had to refuse. There was no way of getting a wheelchair into the house. We fought hard to stay together as a family, but sadly it didn’t happen. All three of my children had to be put into care while we waited for a suitable home to come available. We were broken-hearted; it was a very difficult, sad time for all of us.
"I became the legal guardian of my three children in 2004. Rachael, James, and Suzie, who is a wheelchair user, were then aged 14, 11, and 10, respectively. They had previously been looked after by their mother.
We needed a three-bedroom home that was suitable for Suzie, such as a bungalow, that could be easily adapted for wheelchair use. The first home we were offered by the council I had to refuse. There was no way of getting a wheelchair into the house. We fought hard to stay together as a family, but sadly it didn’t happen. All three of my children had to be put into care while we waited for a suitable home to come available. We were broken-hearted; it was a very difficult, sad time for all of us.
“In December 2006, we were offered a three-bedroom accessible and adaptable home from Habinteg in Westwood Park, Bradford, and moved in a week before Christmas. It was the best Christmas present I could have ever received. I got my family back in a home that was safe and suitable for all of us.”
Habinteg Housing Association
Chapman House Unit 1
Adwalton Business Park
132 Wakefield Road
Drighlington
Bradford, BD11 1DR
T 0300 365 3100
E direct@habinteg.org.uk
