Oban nurse’s house despair
A nurse desperate for a home in Oban has blasted a housing association, claiming it lulled her into a false sense of security by telling her she would be shortlisted for a new-build property.
The mum-of-three, whose two older children have a rare condition, with mild learning difficulties as well as disabilities that include sight problems, says she accepted a staff nurse job at Lorn and Islands Hospital only after being reassured by ACHA that there were properties becoming available.
Kirsty Miller, who is originally from Oban, wanted to return to the town after 27 years away to be closer to her dad and to fulfil her nursing dream of working at the same hospital as her granny did.
She told The Oban Times: ‘ACHA said they had houses coming available just behind the hospital that would be handy for me and that I’d definitely be shortlisted for one of them. This was in August. I was happy with that, went for the job and was offered two posts.’
But she says she was left ‘in limbo’ when her start date arrived and she still had nowhere to go. She said: ‘I’ve been looking everywhere for somewhere to rent but it’s very difficult with my children’s needs. I was misled by ACHA and they have let me and my family down.’
In desperate measures, she claims she was ‘duped’ into changing her original application form for ACHA housing – details about stairs and heating, and removing certain needs such as a shower – and in turn was offered a ‘nightmare’ three-bedroom flat in Soroba.
She said: ‘I just about had a breakdown. It was a nightmare. There were bin bags strewn about, the entry way stank of urine and was covered with it, the lighting was poor. If my children fell there, the damage would be unthinkable – they have spinal rods. I was so desperate I was duped into making changes we couldn’t live with.
‘I handed the keys back. There had been cats or rats running about in the entry. We couldn’t live there. We need a shower, not just a bath. The older children don’t want me having to help them in and out. They want to be independent. With all their health problems, my children deserve a decent home,’ she told The Oban Times.
Mrs Miller said after lodging a complaint, she got a letter back from ACHA denying she was told a house behind the hospital would be hers. The family have spent Christmas in Airbnb accommodation, with Mrs Miller’s 19-year-old and 15-year-old having the two bedrooms, and she, her partner and youngest daughter, four, sleeping in the living room.
In the hope of getting assistance, Mrs Miller has enlisted the help of Brendan O’Hara MP and Oban councillor Jim Lynch.
She continued: ‘I’m at my wits’ end. We’re in an Airbnb right now. Nurses don’t get a great wage but I’m doing it for the vocation. Nursing is my dream job. I work long shifts and nights. The hospital is desperate for nurses but lack of housing doesn’t help the situation at all.’
Her husband is working on the Premier Inn building site.
Mr O’Hara told The Oban Times: ‘We have helped Kirsty in every way we can, by contacting Argyll and Bute Council, ACHA and NHS Highland directly.
‘This is a terrible situation for any family to find themselves in, particularly at this time of year. This is unacceptable given all the efforts we are making to try to grow the population and economy of Argyll and Bute. There needs to be joined-up thinking across all stakeholders and parties. We will continue to support Kirsty in any way possible.’
ACHA’s chief executive, Alastair MacGregor, confirmed Mrs Miller still had an active Home Argyll application but said the association was surprised she refused the home in Soroba.
‘The association does not recognise the description she makes of the entrance way of the home that was offered to her,’ added Mr MacGregor, who said housing stock in Soroba was in high demand and kept up to high standards.
‘The contractual completion date for all of the 107 properties in Glenshellach is August 2019 but shortlisting will only take place for those properties once a handover date from developers is confirmed.
‘The association cannot guarantee Mrs Miller will be made an offer of any of these properties as others’ housing needs may have a higher priority.
‘The association refutes Mrs Miller’s assertion that she has been left in limbo and misled by ACHA. She is currently on the waiting list so is not in limbo. Her position is no different from others who have been on the list for the same time or a lot longer. It is the association’s view that if she had accepted the property in Soroba she would be in a better housing situation than she is now.’