Disabled man in desperate housing plea

ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair-bound 24-year-old longing for independence has been on waiting list for two years

A disabled Fife man with a life-limiting condition is fighting for the right to an independent life before it is too late.

Connor Beveridge, 24, has been on the waiting list for a house for two years and had his hopes dashed when he learned that a newly-built accessible bungalow near his family home in Thornton was going to someone else.

He suffers from Friedreich’s ataxia, a debilitating neurological condition which has left him wheelchair-bound and expected to live only into his 30s or 40s.

Connor, who lives with his parents, is eager for the chance to enjoy his freedom and spend more time with his friends while he can.

He said: “I am now 24 and I desperately want to move out of my family home, live as independently as possible and regain a bit of my own personal life.

“I am a full-time wheelchair user, I can’t drive and because of my disability I am reliant on my mum and dad for everything.”

He said living at home was placing a severe strain on his mental health and his relationship with his family. He said: “Being stuck in my small bedroom at home feels like living in a prison cell.

“I’m unable to have my friends down to socialise or to have a private relationship with a girl.

“I would love to have the opportunity to live as independently as possible before my condition degenerates further.”

Connor said he was initially told by a housing officer he was likely to get one of two accessible bungalows in the new housing estate in Thornton.

However, he has since been told his chances are slim and there are no other suitable properties available in the area.

Fife Council has not yet been able to find alternative accommodation locally, but stressed that efforts to alleviate Mr Beveridge’s situation were continuing.

Sal Henderson, lead officer at Fife Council, said: “We are continuing to work with Mr Beveridge to find accommodation that meets his specific needs in his areas of choice.

“We’re also in contact with other housing providers in Fife to find a solution.”

Picture: Kim Cessford. Connor Beveridge at his parents’ home in Thornton.